22
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1986
+SEVERAL YEARS LATER WHEN THE PLANT ATTAINS ITS HIGHEST EFFICIENCY, THE COST SHOULD BECOME STEADY OR EVEN LOWER. YET THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAVE FAILED TO SECURE A LONGER-TERM GUARANTEE OF LOW TARIFF.+
+THIS IS REALLY BAFFLING, HE SAID.
ON SAFETY ASPECTS, MR CHAN SAID IT WAS UNKNOWN WHETHER THE CONTAINMENT BUILDING OF A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WOULD ACHIEVE THE EXPECTED EFFECT WHEN AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
NOTING THAT AMERICAN AUTHORITIES HAD YET TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE RUPTURE OF THE CONTAINMENT, HE SAID IT WAS TOTALLY UNCONVINCING TO ASK THE PUBLIC TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN SOME UNTESTED SAFETY-PROVED PRODUCT.
MR CHAN ALSO CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW OF INFORMATION ON SAFETY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT AN ATMOSPHERE OF PEACE IN THE SOCIETY WOULD BE CREATED.
+IT WILL BE BEYOND OUR BELIEF TO LEARN THAT THE AUTHORITIES CONSIDER IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE PUBLIC THE INFORMATION ON POWER PLANT SAFETY,+ HE ADDED.
BETTER UNDERSTANDING WOULD ALLAY PUBLIC FEAR
*****
IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE THAT MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN URGENTLY TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THE SAFETY AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE DAYA BAY PROJECTS, THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE PROBLEM, HE SAID, MIGHT TAKE A LONG TIME IN VIEW OF THE DEPTH OF CONCERN AND INSUFFICIENT SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE.
BUT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER JOINT VENTURE COMPANY MUST REALISE THAT BETTER UNDERSTANDING WOULD ALLAY THE FEAR OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC MORE READILY AND HENCE ESTABLISH A HIGHER DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE, HE SAID.
+THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG DO HAVE THE RIGHT IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE PROVIDED WITH THE INFORMATION REQUESTED,+ HE ADDED.
/MR CHENG