XN000022-1986-10-15 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1986

THE WAY THE WHOLE AFFAIR WAS HANDLED GAVE CAUSE TO PEOPLE TO FEEL THAT THE CONFIDENCE IN SECURING A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE HAD BEEN ERODED, HE SAID.

+OUR IMMEDIATE TASK, ONE THAT IS WITHIN OUR POWER TO DO, IS TO RESTORE THE FAITH IN THE FAIRNESS AND OPENNESS OF OUR GOVERNMENT, WITHOUT WHICH THE FUTURE OF THIS BELOVED TERRITORY WOULD INDEED BE BLEAK, HE SAID.

MR LAI STRESSED THAT HE HAD NEVER BEEN ANTI-NUCLEAR OR ANTI-DAYA BAY, BUT SAID HE FELT THAT CRITICAL QUESTIONS ON THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND SAFETY OF THE PLANT MUST FIRST BE ANSWERED BEFORE GIVING HIS ENDORSEMENT TO THE PROJECT.

+1 DO NOT BELIEVE IN TAKING RISK WITHOUT FIRST ASCERTAINING THE PAYOFF.

+I DON'T CONSIDER ANY RISK UNACCEPTABLE, BUT WE MUST KNOW WHAT BENEFITS THERE ARE BEFORE TAKING THAT RISK, NO MATTER HOW SMALL IT MAY BE, HE SAID.

+ BUT UP TO NOW, WE HAVE ONLY BEEN SHOWERED WITH ARGUMENTS OF THE EFFORTS TO AND LIKELIHOOD OF MINIMISING THE RISK ASSOCIATING WITH THE PLANT, BUT KNOW VERY LITTLE OF THE BENEFITS THAT THE PLANT MAY BRING US,+ HE SAID.

MR LAI SAID IT WAS DISAPPOINTING THAT NONE OF THE EFFORTS WAS SUCCESSFUL IN BUYING MORE TIME FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC TO DELIBERATE.

HE SAID THE DAYA BAY ISSUE WAS NOT OVER YET, AND ASSURED THAT MEMBERS WOULD CONTINUE TO EXAMINE THE SALIENT FEATURES OF THE ECONOMIC AND SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED.

ON SAFETY, MR LAI SAID THAT AFTER THE RECENT TRIP TO PEKING, HE WAS CONVINCED OF THE SINCERITY AND THE DETERMINATION OF THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO DO THEIR UTMOST TO ENSURE A SAFE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PLANT.

+NEVERTHELESS, WE MUST NOT LET UP ON OUR EFFORTS TO SECURE THE BEST ARRANGEMENT IN TERMS OF SAFETY, + HE ADDED.

TURNING TO THE ECONOMIC ASPECT OF THE ISSUE, MR LA SAID HE REGRETTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT REVEAL THE LAZARD BROTHERS REPORT WHICH WOULD SHED LIGHT ON THE REASON FOR HONG KONG'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROJECT.

HE SAID HE WONDERED WHAT HAD TO BE CONCEALED TO PROTECT THE PROFITABILITY OF CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY, WHICH WAS THE ONLY ONE COMPANY INVOLVED IN NUCLEAR ENERGY PURCHASE.

/MR LAI