TNAG-1498-FCO40-2056-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 66

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A

B

3.

The Governor

has

now proposed to us a long-term strategy designed to allay public fears in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Telno 1936). In a subsequent telegram (Hong Kong

Telno 1973) he has sounded a note of greater alarm, referring to the political benefits that could be obtained in Hong Kong if the Chinese were to decide now to move the

project from Daya Bay or to convert it to a thermal station. Sir R Evans has reacted strongly, pointing to the

serious costs involved

Chinese and

very

C

the vis-a-vis

French Governments (Peking Telno 1116).

4.

Our immediate task must be two-fold:

(a)

to reassure the Governor, and the Hong Kong

Government; that HMG and the French Government are doing everything possible both to bring home to the Chinese the extent and implications of Hong Kong

concerns, and to encourage them to respond by

demonstrating the highest commitment to safety

considerations;

(b)

5.

to assist the Hong Kong Government in allaying public concern within the territory.

We discussed this at the DTI this morning.

Mr Benjamin, the DTI

DTI Under-Secretary who coordinates the Government's approach to the Daya Bay project, has already discussed with the French Government and the French nuclear industry what can be done. He is fully seized of the Hong Kong dimension and found the French ready to help in every

way.

6.

We shall be sending a telegram to the Governor this evening setting out a response to his proposed long-term

strategy.

all he proposes,

besides. The first steps will be:

We are doing almost

and more

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