XN000022-1986-07-16 — Page 31

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1986

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WHETHER BUYING NUCLEAR POWER WAS IN LINE WITH THE LONG-TERM DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY AND THE LONG-TERM ENERGY POLICY;

AND

THE SOCIAL COST FOR HONG KONG TO TAKE PART IN THE PROJECT.

NEITHER BLIND OPPOSITION TO NEW TECHNOLOGY NOR MERE ACCEPTANCE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY SUPERSTITIOUSLY WERE THE PROPER ATTITUDES TO TACKLE THE CONTROVERSIES, SHE SAID, ADDING THAT WHAT HONG KONG SHOULD DO AT PRESENT WAS TO ESTIMATE OUR DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY FROM NOW TO THE 1990S AND THEN RIGHT INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.

+AFTER CAREFULLY SETTING A COMPREHENSIVE LONG-TERM ENERGY POLICY, WE SHOULD THEN ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF THE DAYA BAY PROJECT AND THE ROLE PLAYED BY NUCLEAR POWER IN OUR ENERGY POLICY, SHE SAID.

THESE INFORMATION SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC AS FAR AS POSSIBLE SO THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE COULD PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSIONS, MRS TAM ADDED.

ON THE SOCIAL COST TO BE BORNE THE HONG KONG IN TAKING PART IN THE PROJECT, MRS TAM SAID APART FROM THE VISIBLE COST OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, A STRONG PHOBIA HAD GRADUALLY BEEN FORMED WHICH COULD NOT BE DISPELLED IN A SHORT PERIOD BY MEANS OF EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY.

IN ADDITION, BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE DAYA BAY PLANT TO HONG KONG, THE LACK OF AN ABSOLUTE SAFETY PLAN WOULD POSE SERIOUS THREATS TO THE LIVES AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG PEOPLE IN THE EVENT OF ACCIDENTS, SHE SAID.

+POLITICALLY, HONG KONG IS GOING THROUGH A SENSITIVE TRANSITION PERIOD, SO WE MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL STABILITY AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, SHE STRESSED.

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MAKE PUBLIC N-PLANT STUDY REPORTS

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THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE PUBLIC ALL COMPLETED STUDY REPORTS ON THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR PLANT SO THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CAN HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACTS ABOUT THE PROJECT.

THE CALL WAS MADE BY THE HON TAM Y1U-CHUNG AT THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE ISSUE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR TAM SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD COMMISSIONED UK CONSULTANTS TO CONDUCT SEVERAL STUDIES ON THE NUCLEAR PROJECT WHICH INCLUDED A RADIATION MONITORING PROGRAMME, AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBABILITY OF ACCIDENTS AT THE POWER STATION AND THE CONSEQUENCES FOR HONG KONG. THE DESIGN OF A CONTINGENCY PLAN, TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS, AND A PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME.

/THE STUDIES