GRS 950
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 04083OZ FCO
TELNO 1716
OF 0407152 JUNE 86
INFO IMMED HATE PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
1134
Amended distribution Mick 166mended
RECEIVEL
18 JUN 1986
ELECTORS
YOUR TELNO 1042 : NUCLEAR SAFETY : CHINA.
1. WE HAD COINCIDENTALLY OURSELVES BEEN WORKING ON AN ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL OPINION IN PREPARATION FOR UN PENG VISIT'S TO LONDON WITH HU YAOBANG.
2. SINCE THE CHERNOBYL INGHDENT THERE HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL DISQUIET MIN HONG KONG ABOUT THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE DAYA BAY PROJECT, COUPLED WITH CONSIDERABLE SOTTOVOCE COMMENT ABOUT THE ABILITY (OR, RATHER, HINABILITY) OF THE CHINESE TO SUPERVISE THE CONSTRUCTION, MANAGEMENT AND PARTICULARLY THE OPERATION OF A NUCLEAR POWER STATION ON HONG KONG'S DOORSTEP. IT ECHOES THE COMMENT IN THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF PEKING TELNO 916 TO THE EFFECT THAT THE FRENCH FEEL THAT THE CHINESE DO NOT YET REALHSE THE FULL EXTENT OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY. AN AD HOC COMMITTEE OF UMELCO HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF MARINA TAM TO CONSIDER THE SAFETY ASPECTS. SO FAR THEY HAVE QUIZZED THE ADMINISTRATINON, ENGINEERS OF THE JOINT VENTURE COMPANY AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS. THEY HAVE KEPT AN ADMRSABLE SENCE OF PROPORTION IN THEIR DELIBERATIONS SOFAR: BUT PUBLIC PRESSURE ON THEM COULD MOUNT.
3. HT KS DIFFICULT TO GIVE A PRECISE ESTIMATE OF THE STRENGTH OF LOCAL SENTIMENT. THERE IS UNDOUBTEDLY CONSIDERABLE DISQUIET AMONG THE POPULATION IN GENERAL, WHICH HAS BEEN REFLECTED IN REGULAR REPORTS BY DISTRICT OFFICERS SINCE THE CHERNOBYL INCIDENT. CONCERN REMAINS HIGH AND THERE ARE NO HINDICATHONS THAT IT WILL DISSIPATE.
4. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE OPPOSITION INCLUDE A FULL PAGE ADVERTISEMENT IN THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL ON 15 MAY SIGNED BY A GROUP OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND ACADEMICS APPEALING TO BOTH THE HONG KONG AND CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO RECONSIDER WHETHER THE PROJECT SHOULD GO AHEAD. ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURE GROUPS (THERE ARE ABOUT TEN IN HONG KONG INCLUDING FRIENDS OF THE EARTH) AND UNIVERSITY/POLYTECHNIC LECTURERS CONTINUE TO KEEP THE ISSUE ON THE BOIL. A HKU LECTURER RECENTLY WARNED THAT AN ACCIDENT AT DAYA BAY IN FEBRUARY TO APRIL WOULD CREATE A RADIO-ACTIVE CLOUD THAT COULD HANG ALMOST STATIONARY OVER HK FOR WEEKS. TODAY'S EDITORIAL #IN MING PAO SAYS THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, HONG KONG WOULD WITHIN A WEEK BECOME A DEAD CITY AND WOULD TAKE 20 YEARS TO RECOVER. THE PRESS IS STILL PUBLISHING A STEADY STREAM OF ''ANTI'' LETTERS. #T IS POSSIBLE THAT DISTRICT BOARDS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE TERRITORY,' MAY BEGIN TO INCLUDE DAYA BAY ON THEIR AGENDA. THIS WEEKEND. A COALITION OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND ACADEMICS PS ARRANGING A PUBLIC FORUM.
CONFIDENTIAL
15
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