COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE
P osal to China it would need to be a UK/Westinghouse arrangement. For ptical reasons, Westinghouse would not be acceptable to China for direct plant supply but they had shown willinghess to collaborate with the UK on a consultative basis but only with regard to their systems responsibilities. Dr Marshall said that it was important to formalise discussions with Westinghouse on this matter.
Sir Lawrence said that the initial aim was to complete the joint CLP/KEC feasibility study by the end of September 1980 and that he saw the UK commercial package as a somewhat longer exercise. Dr Marshall agreed with this but said there would be a need to assess potential contractors as part of his teams support to CLP.
Dr Marshall said that the recent visit by Mr Collier and Mr Plail to Hong Kong and Canton had gone well. Mr Collier had a long list of actions from the Equipment Sub-Committee meeting which would need considerable support in the UK. During the meetings, the Chinese had not initially appreciated the significance of the international regulatory aspects of this project, but were beginning to absorb this. If a nuclear station were to be situated close to the Hong Kong border with subsequent electricity sales to Hong Kong, the long Kong Governor would need to be satisfied that the plant met UK safety regulations. The Chinese would therefore need to base their safety regulations on the UK interpretation of the IAEA regulations. This interpretation although similar to the French was somewhat different to the American, German and Japanese interpretation. This could lead to advantages to the UK for any nuclear plant built in close proximity to the Hong Kong border.
Sir Lawrence added that this was a particularly important point for two further reasons:
1) This should be regarded as just the start of a Chinese nuclear
programme so that the advantages to the UK could continue for further future stations built elsewhere in China.
2) If financing were to be raised in Hong Kong and the UK then
meeting UK safety regulations was likely to be a necessary requirement.
Dr Marshall said that Mr Gaus den had also recently visited Hong Kong for discussions with the Governor and CLP. Mr Gausden, whilst at this moment in time being unable to provide direct support to CLP because of his position as HM Nuclear Inspector, said that he would be prepared to advise the UKAEA wherever appropriate.
Mr Plail reported that at the Site Selection Sub-Committee he had attended, three potential sites had been put forward by the Chinese.
Che Wan, 50 km to the West of Hong Kong.
Ton Chow, 70 km to the North East of Hong Kong.
Thun Yang (Mears Bay), less than 20 km to the North East of Hong Kong.
Mr Plail said that initially the Chinese had been pre-occupied by seismic considerations but that Mr Ashmore (CLP) and he, had explained that seismic considerations could be designed into a plant and that the major consideration should be the suitability of the site from a construction viewpoint. On first consideration the Mears Bay site had seemed the most suitable, but the Chinese had been asked to suggest a possible fourth location. Mr Plail said that the
to consider the key issues of all the sites initially and then to study the most suitable in more detail.
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