XN000022-1986-07-16 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1986

MR YEUNG ALSO STRESSED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SAFETY PLANNING AND MAINTENANCE, ADDING THAT THE TRAINING OF CHINESE TECHNICIANS TO MANAGE THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AND THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE PLANT WERE EQUALLY IMPORTANT.

+ALTHOUGH IT IS UP TO CHINA TO DECIDE WHETHER THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT SHOULD BE BUILT, SHE SHOULD TAKE AN OBJECTIVE APPROACH IN UNDERSTANDING THE REASONS OF OBJECTION PUT UP BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.

'RELAY WORRIES TO CHINA THROUGH JLG'

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THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD RELAY LOCAL PEOPLE'S WORRIES AND DOUBTS ON THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES THROUGH THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP, THE HON RITA FAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE DAYA BAY PROJECT, SHE SAID SHE HOPED THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WOULD UNDERSTAND THE FEELINGS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AND CONSIDER THE INTRODUCTION OF MEASURES WHICH WOULD ALLAY THEIR CONCERN.

TO THIS END, MRS FAN SUGGESTED THAT APPROPRIATE SPECIALISTS LIVING IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE ALLOWED, IN AN INDEPENDENT CAPACITY, TO TAKE PART IN MONITORING THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE NUCLEAR PLANT.

SHE SAID THAT MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG STILL HAD RESERVATIONS AS TO THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT ABILITY AND EXPERIENCE WITHIN CHINA.

+ ALTHOUGH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HONG KONG NUCLEAR INVESTMENT COMPANY (HKNIC) HAVE ASSURED US THAT THE COMPANY WILL, DURING THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF OPERATION, EMPLOY BELGIAN SPECIALISTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCED IN MANAGING NUCLEAR PLANTS TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR PLANT, THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE STILL DOUBTFUL.+

THIS IS BECAUSE EXPERIENCE HAD SHOWN THAT SOME FOREIGN MANAGEMENT STAFF WORKING IN CHINA HAD ENCOUNTERED LIMITATIONS IN DISCHARGING THEIR DUTY.

THEREFORE, MRS FAN SAID, THE CONCERN FELT BY HONG KONG PEOPLE IN THIS RESPECT WAS NOT UNFOUNDED.

MRS FAN CRITICISED THOSE WHO WERE CHARACTERISING THE PLANT AS AN OGRE THAT WAS THREATENING TO OVERWHELM HONG KONG.

/SHE SAID