TNAG-0368-FCO40-414-Visits-of-UK-Government-Ministers-to-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 166

CONFIDENTIAL

question of nuclear safety.

Responsibility for nucler safety arrangements during a

visit to Hong Kong by a nuclear powered vessel (RN or USN)

rests with the UK. Certain berths at buoys in Hong Kong

harbour are cleared for visits by nuclear powered vessels but

with a general limitation to 10% usage (ie 36 ship/days per

year). From the nuclear safety point of view there are no

laid down criteria for the number of vessels which can visit

concurrently ie two can be accepted at one time provided the

aggregate usage of the berths over the year does not exceed

the limitation laid down.

A Special Safety scheme has been drawn up between Service

and Civilian authorities for use in the unlikely event of a

nuclear reactor accident. In such an event a nuclear

emergency monitoring team would be provided from the UK but in

order to improve the immediate response capability monitoring

instruments have been provided at Hong Kong and local service

personnel have been trained in monitoring techniques.

Over the past two years visits slightly in excess of the

approved 10% usage have been accepted. Under the proposed

USN nuclear powered warship programme for 1973/4, however,

visits to Hong Kong are likely to reach 25% usage (91 days

per annum). Accordingly, a review of safety aspects has been

put in hand with the UK AEA Safety and Reliability Directorate

to ensure that safety criteria as accepted by the Nuclear

Powered Warships Safety Committee are not exceeded. This will