XN000022-1986-10-15 — Page 34

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1986

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COMMENTING ON WHAT HE PERCEIVED AS THE TWO MAJOR WORRIES OF THE PUBLIC, PROFESSOR POON RULED OUT A NUCLEAR-BOMB TYPE OF EXPLOSION OCCURRING IN A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.

HE ALSO REJECTED THE POSSIBILITY OF A CHERNOBYL-TYPE DISASTER HAPPENING IN A PWR PLANT SUCH AS WAS PLANNED FOR DAYA BAY BECAUSE THE CHERNOBYL PLANT HAD NO PURPOSE-BUILT CONTAINMENT.

PROMISES MUST BE KEPT

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THE ONLY REALISTIC COURSE OF ACTION FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO TAKE IN DISCHARGING ITS DUTY TO THE PEOPLE OVER THE DAYA BAY ISSUE IS TO ENSURE THAT PROMISES MADE BY CONCERNED PARTIES ARE FAITHFULLY KEPT AND IMPLEMENTED.

THE HON HELMUT SOHMEN SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), ADDING THAT DISCUSSION ON THE ISSUE HAD SUFFERED FROM EMOTIONAL OUTBURSTS WHICH OVERSHADOWED RATIONAL DELIBERATION.

TOPICS QUITE UNRELATED TO THE MAIN ISSUES WERE RAISED AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF GENERAL PUBLIC UNEASE WITH NUCLEAR POWER, BLURRING THE ESSENTIAL POINTS THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE WIDER CONTEXT OF GLOBAL AND LOCAL ENERGY PLANNING FOR REQUIREMENTS BEYOND THE END OF THIS CENTURY.

HOWEVER, MR SOHMEN SAID HE FULLY RESPECTED THE OPINIONS OF THOSE WHO SINCERELY BELIEVED THAT NUCLEAR POWER WAS UNNECESSARY, PREMATURE OR TOO RISKY. HE ALSO AGREED THAT NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS COULD NOT BE ABSOLUTELY SAFE AND TO CALL ATTENTION TO THIS FACT TO HELP PREVENT LETHARGY, SLOPPINESS OR NEGLIGENCE WAS A WORTHWHILE AND COMMENDABLE EXERCISE.

COMMENTING ON THE MOTION TO DISCLOSE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SAFETY AND COMMERCIAL MATTERS, MR SOHMEN SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY RELEASED A LOT OF INFORMATION TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE PUBLIC IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

HE WONDERED WHETHER THE PRODUCTION OF MORE DOCUMENTS WOULD PUT PEOPLE'S MINDS AT REST.

HE ALSO QUESTIONED WHETHER THE PRODUCTION OF MORE DOCUMENTS WOULD INCREASE SAFETY AND GUARANTEE HIGHER CONSTRUCTION AND MA INTENANCE STANDARDS SINCE THE DECISION HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE TO PROCEED WITH BUILDING THE PLANT.

HOWEVER, DESPITE THESE RESERVATIONS, HE SUPPORTED THE MOTION.

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