THURSDA, OCTOBER 27, 1983
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ON THE PROPOSED NUCLEAR POWER STATION IN DAYA BAY, MR BROWN URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE A PROMPT DECISION ON THE PROJECT.
+ I AM PLEASED TO NOTE THAT PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENTS OF CONSULTANTS' REPORTS INDICATE IT OUGHT TO BE POSSIBLE TO NEGOTIATE AN OFF-TAKE AGREEMENT WHICH WILL BE OF BENEFIT TO BOTH CHINA AND HONG KONG.
+THIS IS A DECISION THAT MUST BE MADE QUICKLY, FOR WE MUST NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROJECT WHICH OFFERS HONG KONG A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR DESIRE TO CO-OPERATE WITH CHINA TOWARDS THE FULFILMENT OF THEIR FOUR MODERNISATIONS PROGRAMME,+ HE SAID.
HE SHARED LORD KADOOR IE'S BELIEF THAT +THIS NUCLEAR POWER STATION, DESIGNED, MANUFACTURED AND OPERATED WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY REGULATIONS, OFFERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ILLUSTRATE THAT THE OFT QUOTED MUTUALITY OF INTERESTS BETWEEN PEKING, LONDON AND HONG KONG DOES INDEED EXIST.+
AS FOR THE CONCERN OVER THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND POSSIBLE DANGERS TO HEALTH WHICH A NUCLEAR POWER STATION ON OUR DOORSTEP WOULD ENTAIL, MR BROWN NOTED THAT THE STATION WOULD BE BUILT WITHIN INTERNATIONAL SAFETY STANDARDS.
+ON THE BASIS THAT THE HONG KONG CONSUMER WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR HIS ELECTRICITY THAN FROM OTHER SOURCES, AND THIS IS THE BASIS ON WHICH WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THE COMMERCIAL VIABILITY OF THE PROJECT IS BASED, THEN WE SHOULD GRASP THE OPPORTUNITY OFFERED AND WE SHOULD GRASP IT NOW.+
TURNING TO THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, MR BROWN SAID THAT IT WAS CLEARLY DESIRABLE THAT WE SHOULD MAINTAIN A CLOSE EXAMINATION OF OUR SYSTEM AND PROCEDURES.
HE ALSO WELCOMED THE CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND SAID A LITTLE MORE LIVELY DEBATE WOULD DO A LOT OF GOOD.
CONFIDENCE EXPRESSED IN H.K. DOLLAR
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THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ADOPT A CONSERVATIVE BUDGET AND ASSIST SUCH FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNERS AS EXPORT AND TOURISM, THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
+WE SHOULD ALSO PAY ATTENTION TO INTERNAL STABILITY, THE CONTINUANCE OF OUR HOUSING PROGRAMME, CREATION OF EMPLOYMENT, AND CONTAIN INFLATION, HE ADDED.
SPEAKING OF THE RECENT CURRENCY PROBLEMS AND THE +PANIC+ SHOWN BY SOME PEOPLE ABOUT THE LOCAL DOLLAR, MR CHAN SAID: +WHAT THEY HAVE OVERLOOKED IS THE VITAL FACT THAT OUR DOLLAR IS SOLIDLY BACKED BY A BASKET OF FOREIGN CURRENCIES.+
/MR CHAN