XN000022-1986-07-16 — Page 30

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1986

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BESIDES, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANT WOULD NOT BRING ANY ECONOMIC WINDFALL TO HONG KONG BECAUSE HONG KONG WOULD NOT DEVELOP A NUCLEAR INDUSTRY REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE DAYA BAY PLANT WAS BUILT OR NOT, HE SAID.

ON THE OTHER HAND, DR LAI POINTED OUT THAT THERE MIGHT WELL BE ADVERSE RAMIFICATIONS IF THE PLANT WAS BUILT.

HE WARNED THAT THE PLANT WOULD BE A FERTILE GROUND FOR BREEDING MALICIOUS RUMOURS.

+ BECAUSE HONG KONG IS VULNERABLE TO RUMOURS, THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG WILL BE UNDERMINED IF THERE IS ANY NEWS, GENUINE OR NOT, OF A MALFUNCTION OF THE PLANT CIRCULATING IN HONG KONG,

+ THE EROSION OF CONFIDENCE OF INVESTORS IN HONG KONG BECAUSE OF FEAR OF A NUCLEAR ACCIDENT IS SOMETHING WE CANNOT OBJECTIVELY ASSESS BUT WHICH WE SHOULD NOT DISCOUNT, HE SAID.

DR LAI SAID HIS OFFICE CARRIED OUT A SURVEY WITH DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS IN HIS CONSTITUENCY AND FOUND THAT 80 PER CENT OF THE RESPONDENTS EITHER WANTED TO HAVE FURTHER CONSULTATION BEFORE THE PLANT WAS BUILT (40 PER CENT) OR TO HAVE THE PLANT SCRAPPED ALTOGETHER (40 PER CENT).

ONLY 20 PER CENT AGREED THAT THE PROJECT SHOULD PROCEED AS PLANNED, HE ADDED.

DR LAI BELIEVED THE SURVEY DID PROVIDE A GLIMPSE OF HOW PEOPLE FELT ABOUT THE PROPOSAL AND HE REMINDED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT MORE THAN 350 000 PEOPLE HAD SIGNED A PETITION CALLING FOR A HALT TO THE PROJECT.

THEREFORE, HE CALLED FOR A POSTPONEMENT OF THE SIGNING OF THE MAJOR CONTRACT SO THAT MORE CONSULTATION, DELIBERATION AND INVESTIGATION COULD BE DONE IN ORDER TO COME TO A PRUDENT AND JUDICIOUS DECISION ACCEPTABLE TO ALL.

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CALL TO FREEZE HK'S PARTICIPATION IN DAYA BAY

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR THE HON ROSANNA TAM TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER FREEZING HONG KONG'S PARTICIPATION IN THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT PROJECT AND CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE WHOLE ISSUE.

SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE SUBJECT, SHE SAID ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROJECT SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC FOR DISCUSSION.

EMPHASISING THE NEED TO CONDUCT A REVIEW ON THE ISSUE, SHE SAID TWO FACTORS MERITED DETAILED CONSIDERATION:

WHETHER

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