TNAG-1468-FCO40-1997-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1986 — Page 41

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16. GRAVE DOUBT IN HONG KONG OVER CHINESE COMPETENCE TO MANAGE, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THIS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.

17.

MEMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVE PRODUCED THEIR REPORT FOLLOWING THEIR TOURS ABROAD. AMONG THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HOT-LINE'' BETWEEN THE DAYA BAY PLANT AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR EMERGENCY USE. THIS WOULD REQUIRE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SEVERAL PARTIES CONCERNED, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW THAT HMG WILL HELP TO BRING ABOUT CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN ALL INVOLVED IN RESPECT OF ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCY PLANNING.

AND 18. IN SUMMARY, DAYA BAY ISSUE IS NOT AT CRISIS POINT, HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE SETTLED DOWN SOON, BUT HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR PRODUCHING CONSIDERABLE ADVERSE FEELING AGAINST THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AND (ALTHOUGH NOT EXPRESSED) AGAINST THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND HMG MUST DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO ASSURE THE HONG KONG PUBLIC THAT THEY APPRECIATE THEIR ANXIETIES AND ALL POSSIBLE WILL BE DONE IN REGARD TO SAFETY PROVISIONS.

CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG AND INVESTMENT FROM OVERSEAS

19. THERE ARE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AND MORE INVESTMENT WOULD BE WELCOME. UNITED STATES AND JAPAN ARE NOW BY FAR THE BIGGEST OVERSEAS INVESTORS, WITH UK KNOWN INVESTMENT AT LESS THAT 7 PER CENT OF TOTAL KNOWN OVERSEAS INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG. ANYTHING THAT HMG CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE BRITISH INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG WILL BE NOT ONLY ADVANTAGEOUS IN ITSELF, BUT A FURTHER BOOST TO CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG. IN THIS CONNECTION, THE LATEST SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST SURVEY INDICATES THAT WHILE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY IS GROWING, IT IS LESSENING IN THE POLITICAL FUTURE.

20.

IN CONCLUSION, VISITS BY HMG MINISTERS TO HONG KONG ARE ALWAYS WELCOME, AS A SIGN OF CONTINUING COMMITMENT.

AKERS-JONES

YYYY

HMLNAN 1277

MINIMAL

HKD

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