CONFIDENTIAL
OF IMPORTANT LEGAL DOCUMENTS FOR USE IN LAND TRANSACTIONS. THE
MAJORITY OF LEASES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL EXPIRE ON 30 JUNE
1997. THE RENEWAL OF INDIVIDUAL LEASES UNDER EXISTING STATUTORY
PROCEDURES WOULD BE A MONUMENTAL TASK. ACCORDINGLY, IT HAS BEEN
AGREED THAT THE EXTENSION OF THESE LEASES UNDER THE PROVISIONS
OF PARAGRAPH 2 OF ANNEX !N TO THE JOINT DECLARATION WOULD BE
BEST ACHIEVED THROUGH LEGISLATION. A BILL FOR THIS PURPOSE WILL BE
INTRODUCED IN THIS COUNCIL IN THE COMING SESSION.
(F) PLANNING AHEAD
CERTAIN OF OUR LAWS, FOR EXAMPLE THOSE GOVERNING MERCHANT SHIPPING AND CIVIL AVIATION, ARE UNITED KINGDOM LAWS APPLIED TO
HONG KONG THROUGH SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION OR BY MEANS OF ORDER- IN-COUNCIL. BEFORE 1997, SUCH LAWS MUST BE REPLACED BY LEGISLATION
TO THE SAME OR SIMILAR EFFECT, BUT EMACTED IN HONG KONG. THE
HONG KONG (LEGISLATIVE POWERS) ORDER 1986, MADE ON 25 JULY 1996,
GIVES THE HONG KONG LEGISLATURE POWER TO AMEND OR PEPEAL LEGISLATION
WHICH APPLIES TO HONG KONG IN THE FIELDS OF MERCHANT SHIPPING,
CIVIL AVIATION AND ADMIRALTY JURISDICTION AND ALSO EMPOWERS THE
HONG KONG LEGISLATURE TO MAKE LAWS HAVING EXTRA-TERRITORIAL EFFECT
IN THOSE FIELDS. SPRINGING FROM THAT ORDER, OVER THE NEXT FEW
YEARS, THIS COUNCIL WILL BE INVITED TO CONSIDER MANY IMPORTANT
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS.
(1) DAYA BAY
1 FULLY UNDERSTAND THE GENUINE CONCERN FELT BY MANY PEOPLE
IN HONG KONG AT THE PROXIMITY OF THE FUTURE NUCLEAR POWER STATION
AT DAYA BAY. THE ACCIDENT AT CHERNOBYL HAS SHAKEN PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
IN NUCLEAR ENERGY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, BUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF
THAT INCIDENT WERE UNIQUE AND MUST BE SEEN AGAINST THE GENERALLY
EXCELLENT SAFETY PECORD OF THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY WORLDWIDE. MANY
COUNTRIES, INCLUDING FRANCE, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND JAPAN REMAIN COMMITTED TO NUCLEAR POWER AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY WHICH IS SAFE, COST-EFFECTIVE AND DOES NOT FURTHER CONTRIBUTE TO THE THREAT TO
THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT POSED BY THE BURNING OF INCREASING QUANTITIES
OF FOSSIL FUELS.
THE DECISION WHETHER TO PROCEED WITH THE DAYA BAY PROJECT
HAS ALWAYS RESTED WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THEY HAVE NOW
TAKEN THAT DECISION. THE IMPORTANCE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE BEING
ASSURED THAT THE PLANT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AND OPERATED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL SAFETY STANDARDS HAS
BEEN CONVEYED TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT 20TH BY MYSELF, HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT AND, MORE RECENTLY, BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DELEGATION THAT VISITED PEKING. ON EACH OCCASION THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED FIRM ASSURANCES TO THIS EFFECT.
THE POSSIBILITY OF A NUCLEAR ACCIDENT AT DAYA BAY HAVING
CONSEQUENTIAL EFFECTS FOR HONG KONG IS REMOTE. NEVERTHELESS IT IS
ONLY PRUDENT THAT AN APPROPRIATE CONTINGENCY PLAN IS READY WELL
IN ADVANCE. ACTION ON THIS HAS THEREFORE PEGUN.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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