XN000022-1986-10-15 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1986

DR HO SAID THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAD BEEN DESPERATE IN THE SEARCH OF KNOWLEDGE AND ASSURANCES ABOUT NUCLEAR ENERGY IN ORDER TO ALLAY THEIR FEAR. HOWEVER, SUCH INFORMATION WAS RELEASED BY THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES IN A PIECEMEAL AND HAPHAZARD MANNER AND THE PUBLIC WERE UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE IN PROPER PERSPECTIVE.

HE SAID THE HKNIC OWED THE CONSUMING PUBLIC A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE NUCLEAR POWER PROJECT AT DAYA BAY AND A COMPREHENSIVE STATEMENT OF THE ASSURANCES MADE BY THE GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER JOINT VENTURE COMPANY ABOUT SAFETY FEATURES IN THE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF THE POWER PLANT.

IT WAS ALSO ENCUMBENT UPON THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE AVAILABLE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION AND RELEVANT DOCUMENTS ABOUT THE PROJECT, ITS PART IN THE COMMERCIAL VENTURE AND ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE LONG-TERM INTERESTS FOR THE LOCAL PEOPLE, HE SAID.

+ ONLY THROUGH A LENGTHY PROCESS OF EDUCATION AND INTENSIVE INVOLVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC WILL THE FEAR IN THE PEOPLE BE GRADUALLY REPLACED BY A SENSE OF TRUST IN AND SUBSEQUENTLY ACCEPTANCE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY, HE ADDED.

ON THE RELEASE OF DOCUMENTS BY THE GOVERNMENT, DR HO SAID THAT THE ECONOMY OF HONG KONG WAS BUILT ON A FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM AND WAS SPURRED BY INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT, BOTH FROM LOCAL AND OVERSEAS SOURCES.

CONFIDENCE AND THE PROFIT INCENTIVE IN THE BUSINESS SECTOR MUST BE FOSTERED, HE SAID.

+THEREFORE GOVERNMENT POLICY AND PRACTICES SHOULD UPHOLD THE SPIRIT OF FREE TRADE AND OBSERVE COMMERCIAL CONFIDENTIALITY. + HE NOTED.

OPEN ATTITUDE ON DAYA BAY URGED *****

AN OPEN ATTITUDE SHOULD BE ADOPTED BY ALL PARTIES CONCERNED SO THAT ANY CITIZEN OF HONG KONG WHO WISHES TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO, THE HON ALLEN LEE SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING ON THE DAYA BAY MOTION, MR LEE POINTED OUT THAT THE ISSUE WOULD BE WITH US FOR THE LIFE SPAN OF THE PLANT.

+ IF ANYTHING HAS COME OUT OF THIS WHOLE EXERCISE, I BELIEVE THAT IT HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE CHINESE, FRENCH, BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS ALONG WITH THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY LIMITED, HE SAID.

NR LEE