XN000022-1988-05-05 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1988

BECAUSE THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY IS MANNED ON A 24 HOUR BASIS, HAS READILY AVAILABLE METEOROLOGICAL DATA, AND HAS EXPERIENCE IN RADIATION MONITORING, THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT THE "MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT" CENTRE SHOULD BE SET UP AT THE OBSERVATORY.

THE BASIC RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION PRINCIPLES THAT SHOULD BE APPLIED IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR ACCIDENT ARE GIVEN IN THE REPORT, AND ARE DEVELOPED INTO PRACTICAL ADVICE. SOME OF THE COUNTERMEASURES, SUCH AS WASHING FOODSTUFFS, WOULD BE RELATIVELY EASY TO IMPLEMENT.

EMERGENCY

TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG IS PROMPTLY INFORMED OF ANY AT THE DAYA BAY STATION, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER OR NOT THE INCIDENT WAS LIKELY TO PHYSICALLY AFFECT HONG KONG, THE CONSULTANTS RECOMMEND THAT AGREEMENT SHOULD BE REACHED WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A RELIABLE COMMUNICATIONS LINK BETWEEN THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AND THE DAYA BAY CONTROL CENTRE.

SINCE THE FOOD PATHWAY IS LIKELY TO BE THE PRINCIPAL CONCERN FOLLOWING ANY SERIOUS RELEASE OF RADIOACTIVITY FROM THE DAYA BAY PLANT, THE REPORT DEVOTES A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF COVERAGE TO THE MONITORING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FOOD CHAIN.

THE NEED TO INITIALLY CONCENTRATE ON PRODUCE IN SHOPS AND MARKETS, SUCH AS FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE PLUME IS HIGHLIGHTED.

EVEN WITH VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT UNACCEPTABLE CONTAMINATION OF THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM WOULD EVENTUATE.

THIS IS BECAUSE ANY DEPOSITION ON THE RESERVOIRS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO MASSIVE DILUTION BY THE VOLUME OF WATER IN THE RESERVOIR.

FURTHERMORE THE LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVITY IN THE WATER WOULD BE GREATLY REDUCED BY THE STANDARD WATER TREATMENT PROCESS.

THE REPORT GOES ON TO SAY THAT IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT LIVESTOCK WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY CONTAMINATED UNLESS THEY HAD BEEN GRAZING ON CONTAMINATED PASTURE.

THE

CO-OPERATION FROM THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WOULD ENSURE THAT ANY SUCH ANIMALS WOULD BE IDENTIFIED AND CHECKED FOR CONTAMINATION AT AFFECTED FARM. FOR MONITORING PURPOSES THE REPORT SUGGESTS THAT A SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLING WOULD BE JUSTIFIABLE.

/OTHER HIGHLIGHTS