CONFIDENTIAL
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MDLIAN 7309
70
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RECE
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
3:
TO PRIORITY FCOLN
TOP COPY QDIST?
See (69)
IN. A
TELNO 1230
OF 260518Z JULY 1993
AND TO PRIORITY PEKING
INFO ROUTINE UKMIS VIENNA, WASHINGTON, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
MIPT: GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION AT DAYA BAY
WE HAVE CONSIDERED POSSIBLE NEW FORMULAE WHICH WE MAY OFFER TO THE CHINESE AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME WHEN THE TALKS RESUME. STOPPING SHORT OF GIVING THE CHINESE A GENERAL VETO ON THE PUBLIC RELEASE OF INFORMATION, THESE FORMULAE MIGHT SHOW SOME CHANCE OF ACCEPTANCE TO THE CHINESE. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD BE POLITICALLY SALEABLE HERE: ALL INCLUDE A BOTTOM-LINE REQUIREMENT TO BE ABLE TO DECIDE OURSELVES ON WHAT INFORMATION TO RELEASE IN THE CASE OF AN INCIDENT WHICH MIGHT HAVE DIRECT CONSEQUENCES FOR HONG KONG.
2. AS OUR STARTING POSITION, WE WOULD PROPOSE THAT INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONFIDENCE WOULD NOT BE MADE PUBLIC UNLESS IT WAS NECESSARY TO DO SO FOR REASONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. WE JUDGE IN PRACTICE THAT THE CHINESE ARE UNLIKELY TO SETTLE FOR THIS OPTION. IF NECESSARY, WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO GO ONE STEP FURTHER AND AGREE TO COMMUNICATE AND CONFER WITH THEM ON THE PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BUT NOT YET PUBLISHED BY THEM, IF THIS IS PRACTICABLE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
3. IF THE CHINESE REMAIN INFLEXIBLE, WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO OFFER IN ADDITION ONE FINAL CONCESSION, TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN ON- SITE AND OFF-SITE INCIDENTS. WE WOULD UNDERTAKE NOT TO RELEASE INFORMATION ABOUT ON-SITE INCIDENTS WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE GUANGDONG SIDE, AS LONG AS THESE INCIDENTS RETAINED AN ON-SITE STATUS AND ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PLANT OPERATOR, IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARD INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE, WOULD PUBLISH REGULAR BULLETINS ON ALL ON-SITE INCIDENTS. WE WOULD, HOWEVER, RETAIN THE DISCRETION TO RELEASE ANY INFORMATION WE JUDGE NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY REGARDING OFF-SITE INCIDENTS.
4. THIS WOULD BE OUR BOTTOM-LINE. WE THINK WE CAN DEFEND THIS POSITION IN PUBLIC BY EXPLAINING THAT ON-SITE INCIDENTS HAVE NO DIRECT CONSEQUENCES FOR HONG KONG. OUR INTENTION AT PRESENT IS TO OFFER THIS ONLY AFTER THE GUANGDONG SIDE HAVE MADE A FIRM COMMITMENT TO CO-OPERATE WITH US, AND TO PROVIDE US ADEQUATE
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