TNAG-1498-FCO40-2056-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 8

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AKK RECEIVED IN

208

2 JUL 1936

TOP CUFI

GRS 600

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PARIS

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 661

OF 01165OZ JULY 86-

Confidential

INFO IMMEDIATE DTI, HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, PEKING

INFO ROUTINE UKMIS VIENNA

MIPT

GUANGDONG : NUCLEAR SAFETY.

FOLLOWING IS TEXT HANDED OVER TO FRENCH

BEGINS

1. BRITISH AND FRENCH MINISTERS GLAD OF OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS

GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION DURING RECENT VISIT BY PARTY GENERAL

SECRETARY HU TO LONDON AND PARIS. LI PENG SUGGESTED THAT UK AND

FRENCH GOVERNMENTS SHOULD HELP REASSURE HK PUBLIC OPINION. OUR TWO

GOVERNMENTS AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL DO ALL WE CAN. BUT THE

GUANGDONG NUCLEAR INVESTMENT COROPRATION HAS A 75 PERCENT SHARE IN

THE GNP JVC, WHICH WILL BUILD, OPERATE AND OWN THE POWER STATION.

THE POWER STATION WILL BE BUILT IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE. IT WILL IN

OUR VIEW BE ESSENTIAL IF PUBLIC OPINION IS IN FACT TO BE REASSURED

THAT THE PRC ITSELF SHOULD TAKE EFFECTIVE AND EARLY MEASURES TO SHOW

IN PUBLIC THAT THEY WILL PUT LI PENG'S WORDS TO THE JVC QUALITY

AND SAFETY FIRST - INTO ACTION.

-

2. TO GIVE EARLY REASSURANCE TO HK PUBLIC OPINION EDF HAV AGREED TO

SEND A SENIOR TEAM TO HONG KONG (PROBABLY IN THE PERIOD 9–11 JULY)

TO GIVE A PRESENTATION TO MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS WITH JOURNALISTS PRESENT. CLOSE SQUARE

BRACKETS DURING THIS, EDF INTEND TO INVITE MEMBERS OF THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO VISIT FRENCH NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS. THIS

WOULD GIVE FULL OPPORTUNITY FOR INFLUENTIAL HK PEOPLE TO SEE EDF IN

ACTION AND TO HEAR SAFETY RECORD. SQUARE BRACKETS BEGIN HOPE PRCG

WILL WISH TO ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH THIS INVITATION IN AN

APPROPRIATE WAY. CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS THIS WILL HOWEVER ALMOST

CERTAINLY TURN ATTENTION TO CHINESE INTENTIONS ON SAFETY IN BUILDING

AND ESPECIALLY OPERATING POWER STATIONS. WE SEE GREAT ADVANTAGE IN

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THE JVC, WHICH WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING THE STATION, BEING ABLE TO REVEAL PUBLICLY AT THIS STAGE THEIR PLANS AND COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVE MEASURES.

Cor nfidential

13.