THE PUBLIC CONCERN FELT IN HONG KONG WAS ECHOED IN A DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 16 JULY. IN AUGUST, TWO FACT-FINDING DELEGATIONS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS VISITED EUROPE, THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF NUCLEAR ENERGY AND THE SAFETY SYSTEMS INCORPORATED INTO THE DESIGN OF PLANTS SIMILAR TO THAT TO BE BUILT AT DAYA BAY. A REPORT ON THEIR VISITS WAS PUBLISHED ON THEIR RETURN, FOLLOWING WHICH MEMBERS OF THE FACT-FINDING DELEGATIONS WERE INVITED TO PEKING BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO DISCUSS ITS CONTENTS. THEY WERE ASSURED BY CHINESE OFFICIALS THAT THOSE OBSERVATIONS IN THE REPORT WHICH WOULD ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF THE PLANT AND WERE TECHNICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY VIABLE WOULD BE ACCEPTED. IN CONFIRMING ITS INTENTION TO PROCEED WITH THE PROJECT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FURTHER EMPHASIZED THAT IT HAD TAKEN, AND WOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE, ALL POSSIBLE MEASURES TO ENSURE THE SAFE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE DAYA BAY PLANT.
HAVING REGARD TO ITS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE WELFARE AND WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT CONVEYED THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE OTHER GOVERNMENTS CONCERNED IN THE PROJECT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT IS CONFIDENT THAT EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DAYA BAY PLANT WILL BE CARRIED OUT TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SAFETY STANDARDS.
THE CONTRACTS WITH THE BRITISH AND FRENCH COMPANIES SUPPLYING EQUIPMENT FOR THE PLANT, AND THE RELATED LOAN AGREEMENTS, WERE SIGNED IN PEKING ON 23 SEPTEMBER. SINCE THEN ATTENTION IN HONG KONG HAS FOCUSSED MORE ON THE SAFETY AND TARIFF ASPECTS WHICH WERE DEBATED AGAIN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 15 OCTOBER. ON THIS OCCASION THE COUNCIL PASSED A MOTION REQUESTING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF THE ARRANGEMENTS REGARDING SAFETY AND TARIFF FOR THE PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY FROM THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, TOGETHER WITH SUCH SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AS DO NOT BREACH COMMERCIAL CONFIDENTIALITY AND TO EXPLAIN WHETHER OR NOT SUCH ARRANGEMENTS WILL SUFFICIENTLY SAFEGUARD THE LONG TERM INTERESTS OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE'. A REPORT CONTAINING THIS INFORMATION WAS ISSUED ON 10 NOVEMBER.
CONFIDENTIAL
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