GRS 375
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
HITE PA 166)!.
FM HONG KONG 270522Z AUGUST 82
TO PRIORITY PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 411 OF 27 AUGUST
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR PROJECT: SAFETY ASPECTS
WE ARE NOW EXAMINING HOW BEST TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS WOULD BE IMPOSED DURING THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE GUANGDONG STATION, SHOULD THE PROJECT GO AHEAD. THIS IS IN VIEW OF GROWING PUBLIC INTEREST IN PARTICULAR ON WHETHER HONG KONG WOULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED, AND HENCE THE IMPORTANCE TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OF BEING ABLE TO TELL THE PUBLIC IN DUE COURSE THAT THERE IS NOTHING
TO FEAR.
2. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORKINGS OF THE STATE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION WHICH WE UNDERSTAND SETS STANDARDS FOR NUCLEAR STATIONS IN CHINA BUT WE CONSIDER IT UNLIKELY THAT CHINA WOULD PERMIT EITHER NII OR
IAEA TO CONDUCT EXAMINATIONS ON CHINESE SOIL.
3. NEVERTHELESS, WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE ON THE COMMISSION, PUTTING PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON ITS STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES, AND ON HOW EFFECTIVE IT HAS BEEN WITH REGARD TO ANY OTHER NUCLEAR
PROJECTS IN CHINA.
4. IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR RESPONSE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL NEED TO WEIGH THE ADVISABILITY OF HIRING INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS TO VET SAFETY STANDARDS AT EVERY STAGE OF
THE PROJECT.
ス
AFZ7/8.
YOUDE
LIMITED
MR GIFFARD
FED
NED
TRED
HK v GD
MR DONALD
MR GILLMORE
ADDITIONAL DIST:
GUANGDONG NUCLEAT
COPIES TO:
MR.G. STEVENS AEZ
D/ENERGY MR BRICE DUS' DO!
CONFIDENTIAL
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