XN000022-1974-06-28 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1974

BRITISH EXPERTS TO STUDY FEASIBILITY OF NUCLEAR POWER STATION FOR HONG KONG

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HREE BRITISH EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF GENERATING ELECTRICITY MUBEE FROM NUCLEAR RESOURCES WILL ARRIVE ON MONDAY CJULY 15 TO LOOK INTO THE FEASIBILITY OF SETING A NUCLEAR POWER STATION IN HONG KONG.

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THE TEAM IS MADE UP OF MR. J.V. JEFFREY THE PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS INSPECTORATE- DR. F. WOOD, THE TECHNICAL CO-ORDINATOR OF DESALINATION DEVELOPMENT REACTOR GROUP OF THE UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY AT WINFRITH AND MR. L.J. NASH, THE GROUP HEAD OF THE STATION PLANNING BRANCH OF THE UNITED KINGDOM CENTRAL ELECTRICITY GENERATING BOARD. THEY WILL BE IN HONG KONG FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT IN VIEW OF THE ENERGY PROBLEMS CREATED BY THE RECENT OIL CRISIS AND THE INCREASED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT, THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS AND MEANS OF SATISFYING HONG KONG'S FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS.

AS PART OF THE REVIEW, CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO FINDING OUT WHETHER OR NOT A NUCLEAR POWER STATION WOULD BE. FEASIBLE IN HONG KONG'S CONDITIONS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PIN-POINT A SITE, MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WILL CONCERN THEMSELVES PRIMARILY WITH SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND POLLUTION CONSIDERATIONS.

HE STRESSED THAT EVEN WHEN THE RESULTS OF THE TEAM'S INVESTIGATIONS ARE KNOWN, MANY OTHER FACTORS INCLUDING ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL, WILL HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE A DECISION IS REACHED ON WHETHER OR NOT HONG KONG SHOULD HAVE A NUCLEAR POWER STATION.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WILL NOT MEET THE PRESS ON THEIR ARRIVAL, BUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE MADE TOWARDS THE END OF THEIR VISIT.

SALVAGE OPERATIONS OF +SEAVISE UNIVERSITY+

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THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE TODAY ADVISED MARINERS AND OPERATORS OF SMALL CRAFT TO KEEP WELL CLEAR OF THE PROHIBITED AREA SURROUNDING THE WRECK OF THE +SEAVISE UNIVERSITYZ+ WHERE UNDERWATER SALVAGE AND BLASTING OPERATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE.

THE PROHIBITED AREA LIES AT THE APPROACHES OF RAMBLER CHANNEL, SOUTH EAST OF TSING YI ISLAND, AND IS MARKED BY GREEN BUOYS.

BREAKING OPERATIONS ARE SCHEDULED TO START AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK.

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