THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1986
SIR EDWARD ADDED THAT HE WAS GOING TO WAIT AND SEE WHETHER LEGCO MEMBERS WANTED TO DEBATE THE DAYA BAY ISSUE.
+THAT'S VERY MUCH A MATTER FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THIS STAGE AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO CONSIDER THAT LATER IN THE WEEK, HE SAID.
YAXLEY TO VISIT UK OVER NUCLEAR PLANT ISSUE
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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE CONCERN EXPRESSED BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY REGARDING THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER STATION.
HE SAID THAT THE CONSTRUCTION AND FUTURE OPERATION OF THE PLANT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER JOINT VENTURE COMPANY. HOWEVER, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS IN THE POSITION OF ANY OTHER METROPOLITAN AUTHORITY WHERE A NUCLEAR POWER STATION IS BUILT NEAR ITS TERRITORY.
ACCORDINGLY, THE GOVERNMENT IS REQUESTING ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN BUILDING AND OPERATING THE PLANT TO PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO EXPLAIN THE STATION AND CONVEY ASSURANCES TO THE HONG KONG PUBLIC REGARDING THE SAFETY ASPECTS WHICH WILL BE BUILT INTO THE STATION AND APPLIED DURING ITS OPERATION.
MR JACOBS SAID THAT IN ORDER TO CARRY THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS FURTHER FORWARD, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR JOHN YAXLEY, WILL BE VISITING THE UNITED KINGDOM EARLY NEXT MONTH. HE WILL BE HOLDING DISCUSSIONS WITH APPROPRIATE WHITEHALL DEPARTMENTS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES REGARDING THE MEASURES ADOPTED BY OTHER MAJOR URBAN AREAS.
MR JACOBS ADDED THAT DISCUSSIONS ARE ALSO IN PROGRESS WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY AT HARWELL, WHO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS CONSULTANTS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE SUBJECT OF DAYA BAY WAS DISCUSSED BY BRITISH AND CHINESE LEADERS DURING THE VISIT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM BY SECRETARY GENERAL HU YAOBANG, BOTH SIDES STRESSED THE NEED FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SAFETY STANDARDS, BASED ON EXTENSIVE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, AND FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION AND REASSURANCE IN ORDER TO ALLAY THE CONCERN OF THE HONG KONG PUBLIC.
HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT ENGINEERS FROM THE DAYA BAY PROJECT WILL MEET MEMBERS OF THE UMELCO PANEL ON PUBLIC UTILITIES TOMORROW (FRIDAY). THE ENGINEERS WILL BE ANSWERING A DETAILED LIST OF QUESTIONS PUT TO THEM EARLIER THIS MONTH BY UMELCO. MANY OF THESE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE REPRESENTATIONS MADE TO UMELCO BY VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTALIST GROUPS.
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