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Before the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear
power station, the Daya Bay project was generally seen as
a positive development which augured well for Hong Kong's
future. Inevitably, the events at Chernobyl provoked
intense debate in Hong Kong, as elsewhere in the world, on
the safety
safety of nuclear power stations. Public concern
focused on the proximity of the station to Hong Kong and
the difficulties of evacuating the local population should
this prove necessary. Opposition by various pressure
groups mounted during the early summer months, culminating
in the presentation of a petition to the Chinese
Government containing one million signatures.
in a debate
In
The public concern felt in Hong Kong was echoed
debate in the Legislative Council on 16 July.
August, two fact-finding delegations of Council members
visited
better
Europe, the United States and Japan to gain a
understanding of nuclear energy and the safety
systems incorporated into the design of plants similar to
that to
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
the report which would enhance the safety of the plant and
in
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