8
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WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1986.
SUCH RECORDS, HE SAID, COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN ORDER TO INSTILL PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.
MR CHEN SAID THAT FURTHER DOWN THE STATION MANAGEMENT LINE THE IMPORTANT EXECUTIVE POSITION OF +REACTOR PHYSICIST+ OUGHT TO BE EMPHASISED.
+ BEING THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE REACTOR, HE MUST HAVE UNCOMPROMISED AUTHORITY TO SHUT DOWN THE PLANT WHEN HE SEES AN IMMINENT DANGER IN THE REACTOR OPERATION, AND HIS DECISION SHOULD NOT BE OVERRIDDEN BY OTHER SYSTEM CONSIDERATIONS.+
THIS, HE SAID, WOULD HELP ELIMINATE ERRONEOUS OR UNTIMELY DECISIONS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
MR CHEN CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT WHILE THE DANGER OF A DAYA BAY NUCLEAR FALL-OUT ON HONG KONG WAS FULLY APPRECIATED, +WE MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF A POLITICAL FALL-OUT FROM DAYA BAY WHICH COULD BE JUST AS DAMAGING.+
PUBLIC SHOULD BE GIVEN MORE INFORMATION
*****
HONG KONG PEOPLE'S FEAR AND UNEASINESS OVER THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR PLANT AROSE MAINLY FROM A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROJECT, THE HON WONG PO-YAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
+IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO CONVEY FACTUAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER TO THEM, HE SAID DURING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE SUBJECT,
MR WONG SAID THAT SINCE AN ATOMIC BOMB COULD FLATTEN A CITY, PEOPLE ASSUMED THAT A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WOULD HAVE AN EQUALLY DREADFUL DESTRUCTIVE POWER IF IT SHOULD +EXPLODE+.
+HOWEVER, IF THEY KNOW THAT THE URANIUM 235 ABLE TO INCUR NUCLEAR FISSION FOR THE ATOMIC BOMB IS OF A VERY HIGH CONCENTRATION, AND THE CONCENTRATION OF THE U-235 USED IN A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AS FUEL IS ONLY 3 PER CENT UP TO 7 PER CENT AND WILL NOT 'EXPLODE', THEIR FEAR SHOULD VANISH, HE SAID.
+OF COURSE, LEAKING OF RADIOACTIVITY IS A POSSIBILITY, BUT THERE ARE MEANS OF PREVENTION,+ HE ADDED.
THEREFORE, MR WONG SAID, HONG KONG PEOPLE NEEDED A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACTS OF NUCLEAR POWER, AND IT SHOULD BE DEMANDED THAT THE DAYA BAY POWER PLANT MUST HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY SYSTEM.
THIS IN