XN000022-1986-10-15 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1986

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RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT TARIFF ARRANGEMENTS

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THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TARIFF ARRANGEMENTS OF CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY (CLP) FOR THE PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY FROM THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

AS CONSUMERS, HE ADDED, THE PUBLIC HAD THE RIGHT TO KNOW THE ARRANGEMENTS REGARDING THE SALE OF ELECTRICITY TO THE CLP AFTER THE INITIAL SIX YEARS' COMMISSIONING OF THE PLANT.

IN THIS CONNECTION, MR CHEUNG ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE DETAILED ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING THREE QUESTIONS:

* WILL THE HONG KONG NUCLEAR INVESTMENT COMPANY (HKNIC) BE BROUGHT UNDER THE PRESENT +SCHEME OF CONTROL+ SO THAT IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROFITEER THROUGH THE RESALE OF NUCLEAR POWER TO THE CLP?

*

*

ARE THERE ANY MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THE GUANGDONG NUCLEAR INVESTMENT COMPANY (GNIC) WOULD NOT SEEK TO INCREASE THE ELECTRICITY CHARGE AT THE LATER STAGE OF THE PLANT'S OPERATION. SO AS TO RECOVER THE LOSS WHICH IT MAY SUFFER BECAUSE OF THE PRICE ASSURANCE IN THE INITIAL SIX YEARS?

AFTER THE COMMISSIONING OF THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THE HKNIC TO CUT DOWN ITS PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY FROM THE GNIC IF THE DEMAND IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE TO FALL SHORT OF THE EXPECTED LEVEL?

ON SAFETY ASPECTS, MR CHEUNG SAID WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IMPENDING, HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEEK ASSURANCE FROM THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED THAT THE PLANT SHOULD REACH THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF SAFETY IN THE FUTURE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT.

HE SAID THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WAS A LONG-TERM PROJECT AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC ALL DISCLOSABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT IN THE COURSE OF THE PLANT'S CONSTRUCTION AND COMMISSION.

+IT IS ONLY THEN THAT THE DOUBTS AND WORRIES OF THE PEOPLE WOULD BE ALLAYED, HE SAID.

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