XN000022-1992-04-29 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1992

12

NUCLEAR CONTINGENCY PLAN SOUND

EXPERT'S FROM THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) CONCLUDED THAT HONG KONG'S CONTINGENCY PLAN RELATING ΤΟ THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WAS BASICALLY SOUND.

THE DETAILED PLAN WAS PREPARED TO ENSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE NECESSARY MACHINERY AND RESOURCES TO COPE WITH ANY ACCIDENT RESULTING IN RADIATION LEAKAGE FROM THE PLANT.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHILE REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY REV THE FUNG CHI-WOOD.

HON

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD EXPERT ADVICE FROM A NUMBER OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES IN PREPARING THE CONTINGENCY PLAN.

ASPREY SAID AN EXERCISE WAS CONDUCTED IN NOVEMBER 1990 ΤΟ TEST THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLAN.

MR

EXPERTS FROM IAEA WERE FULLY INVOLVED IN THE EXERCISE AND ITS

EVALUATION.

TEST

"THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE EXERCISE HAD PROVIDED A COMPREHENSIVE OF ALL THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE PLAN, AND THAT THE PLAN WAS BASICALLY SOUND," HE SAID.

HE SAID SINCE THEN WORK HAD CONTINUED ON REVISING AND IMPROVING THE PLAN IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE GAINED IN THE EXERCISE AND OF ADVICE FROM THE IAEA.

CLOSE CONTACTS HAVE ALSO BEEN MAINTAINED WITH UK AUTHORITIES + OTHER NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITIES AND POWER COMPANIES WITH WHICH HAVE PROVIDED INFORMATION, TECHNICAL ADVICE AND TRAINING.

THE GOVERNMENT AIMS TO TEST THE REVISED PLAN IN A FURTHER EXERCISE BEFORE THE COMMISSIONING OF THE DAYA BAY PLANT, NOW SCHEDULED FOR MID TO LATE NEXT YEAR.

THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE PLAN MEETS THE HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS. THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO INVITE EVALUATION FROM THE IAEA.

0

/13