XN000022-1986-10-08 — Page 24

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1986

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NEVERTHELESS, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PROJECT WAS THE RESULT OF SIX YEARS OF SERIOUS CONSIDERATION AND NEGOTIATION. DURING THIS PERIOD IT WAS REGARDED, IN MOST QUARTERS, AS ENCOURAGING EVIDENCE OF CO-OPERATION BETWEEN ALL THE PARTIES CONCERNED WHICH AUGURED WELL FOR THE FUTURE. IT WAS TAKEN AS A HELPFUL AND ENCOURAGING SIGN AT A TIME OF CONTINUING ANXIETY ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE.

EVEN THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER, HE ADDED, DID NOT CHANGE THE VIEW OF MANY GOVERNMENTS THAT NUCLEAR POWER, PROPERLY MANAGED, HAD AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IN MEETING THE WORLD'S ENERGY NEEDS.

HOWEVER, THE DEEP CONCERNS FELT IN HONG KONG ABOUT DAYA BAY HAD BEEN CONVEYED TO BOTH THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD EMPHASISED THAT THEY HAD TAKEN AND WOULD TAKE ALL POSSIBLE MEASURES TO ENSURE THE SAFE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE PLANT.

+DURING THE RECENT VISIT OF MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO LONDON THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY AWARE OF ITS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE WELFARE AND WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND HAD STRESSED THE CONCERNS, EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG, TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.+

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS CONFIDENT THAT EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO ENSURE THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SAFETY STANDARDS AT DAYA BAY.

SIR EDWARD ADDED: THERE WILL BE A FURTHER DEBATE SHORTLY IN THIS COUNCIL AND I DO NOT SEEK TO PRE-EMPT IT THIS AFTERNOON.

I WOULD, HOWEVER, WISH TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE WORK DONE BY MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND, IN PARTICULAR, BY THE DELEGATIONS TO THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN AND TO EUROPE, AND DURING THE IR SUBSEQUENT VISIT TO PEK ING TO DISCUSS THE IR OBSERVATIONS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.

ONE.+

IN THE FACE OF THE DEBATE, THE IR TASK HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY

TURNING TO OTHER SOURCES OF POWER SIR EDWARD REPORTED THAT THE FIRST PHASE OF THE GAS PRODUCTION PLANT IN THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE SHOULD BE IN COMMERCIAL OPERATION BY THE END OF THE YEAR READY FOR THE PEAK WINTER DEMAND.

THIS WOULD ENABLE THE CHINA GAS COMPANY TO REDUCE PRODUCTION AT THE MA TAU KOK PLANT AND TO REDUCE ITS IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

SIR EDWARD SAID THE GAS SAFETY BILL WAS NEARLY READY AND WOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL DURING THE CURRENT SESSION. THE BILL WAS BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS OF OVERSEAS CONSULTANTS ENGAGED IN 1981 AFTER A NUMBER OF DEATHS CAUSED BY OPEN-FLUE GAS HEATERS.

THE BILL WOULD PROVIDE CLEAR STANDARDS AND SAFEGUARDS IN RESPECT OF THE IMPORTATION, MANUFACTURE, STORAGE, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION AND CONSUMPTION OF GAS AND WILL APPLY TO BOTH TOWN GAS AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS.

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