25-AUG-1993 12:00
BRITISH EMBASSY PEKING
IN CONFIDENCE
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION AT DAYA BAY.
532 1965
P.A4
1.
The Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station is a major project in China's programme of economic modernisation. It has been an excellent example of good co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong for the mutual benefit of the residents of both
places. It has also been a good example of UK/China co-operation. Its entry into serviçe later this year will be an important event attracting widespread publicity.
2.
Both the Guangdong authorities and the Central authorities in Peking have always stressed the importance of nuclear safety. The Hong Kong authorities have also taken a close interest in this question because of their direct
responsibilities for health and safety within Hong Kong. The questions of nuclear safety and Guangdong/Hong Kong information exchange arrangements are also matters of intense public concern and media interest in Hong Kong.
3.
Just as Hong Kong stands to benefit greatly from the successful operation of the Daya Bay station, so Hong Kong
could be very seriously affected by any accident there. Hong Kong lies within the 50km radius emergency planning zone of
the Daya Bay station. Hong Kong obtains 75% of its water, 34% of its fresh food supplies, 84% of its livestock and poultry, and 49% of its milk from the mainland. In these eircumstances it is very desirable that there chould be the closest possible co-óperation, including unrestricted information exchange, betwen the relevant authorities in
Guangdong and Hong Kong.
4.
The Hong Kong Government is coming under increasing public pressure to announce details of the safety
arrangements made with the Chinese authorities. Testing at
pol/HK/nuc-spkg
IN CONFIDENCE
Page 150Page 151