TNAG-1497-FCO40-2055-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 40

GRS 230

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18 JUN 1936

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TO DESKBY 09093OZ FCO

TELNO 990

OF 090713Z JUNE 86

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, PARIS

138

FROM COMMERC||

TAL COUNSELLOR. OUR TELNO.976 AND HONG KONG TELS NO.1716 AND 1726: NUCLEAR SAFETY, CHINA.

139

1. WHEN I SAW THE FRENCH NUCLEAR COUNSELLOR ON 9 JUNE TO PICK UP

THE SINO/FRENCH LETTER OF INTENT ON NUCLEAR SAFETY, I TOLD HIM IN

CONFIDENCE THAT LI PENG HAD ASKED FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF FEELINGS IN HONG KONG ABOUT THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF DAYA BAY. I SAID THAT I EXPECTED MINISTERS TO EMPHASISE TO LI PENG THE IMPORTANCE OF THE

CHINESE GETTING THE SAFETY FACTOR RIGHT. GOURIEVIDIS SAID THAT

THERE WAS ONE SPECIFIC MESSAGE WHICH IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO PUT ACROSS TO LI PENG. THE CHINESE NUCLEAR SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WAS, FRANKLY, TOOTHLESS. IT NEEDED BOTH FUNDS AND PERSONNEL. HE HOPED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT COULD THEREFORE PRESS LI PENG TO ENSURE

THAT THE NSA COULD BE ALLOCATED BOTH AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY. TO

TALK OF CONCERN FOR SAFETY WITHOUT BEING READY TO ALLOCATE THE

NECESSARY RESOURCES WAS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH.

2. GOURIEVIDIS ADDED THAT HE WAS PRESSING THE CHINESE TO HOLD

A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO PUBLICISE THE RESULTS

OF THE RECENT MEETING IN PARIS AND THE SIGNATURE OF THE LETTER OF

INTENT. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PUBLIC OPINION THAT SUCH PROGRESS AS

HAD BEEN MADE SHOULD BE RECORDED. HE AWAITS CHINESE REACTIONS.

THOMSON

GUANGDONG

LIMITED

FED

[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET]

PS

NED

TRED

HKD

PUSD(MR CROWLEY) WED

PS/MR RENTON PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR DAUNT

MR WILSON

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

GUANGDONG NUCLEAR

CONFIDENTIAL

REPEATED AS REQUESTED)