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RS
350
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 250930Z FCO
TELNO 1972
OF 25082OZ JUNE 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
Att 160/1
CONFIDENTIAL
182
TOP COPY
MUPT: NUCLEAR SAFETY : CHINA.
1. TEXT OF DRAFT PRESS RELEASE PS AS FOLLOWS :
BEGINS.
1. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. PIERS JACOBS, SAD TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE CONCERN EXPRESSED BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY REGARDING THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER STATION. HE COMMENTED THAT WHILE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD NO DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND FUTURE OPERATION OF THE STATION, THIS NEVERTHELESS IN THE POSITION OF ANY OTHER METROPOLITAN AUTHORITY WHERE A NUCLEAR POWER STATION IS BUILT NEAR ITS TERRITORY. ACCORDINGLY, THE GOVERNMENT #S CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THOSE INVOLVED IN BUILDING AND OPERATING THE PLANT WITH A WINEW TO THEIR PUTTING TOGETHER A PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO EXPLAIN THE STATION AND CONVEY ASSURANCES TO THE HONG KONG PUBLIC REGARDING THE SAFETY ASPECTS WHICH WILL BE BUILT INTO THE STATION AND APPLIED DURING ITS OPERATION.
2. MR. JACOBS SAID THAT IN ORDER TO CARRY THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS FURTHER FORWARD, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, JOHN YAXLEY, WILL BE VISITING THE UNITED KINGDOM EARLY NEXT MONTH. HE WILL BE HOLDING DISCUSSIONS WITH APPROPRIATE WHITEHALL DEPARTMENTS
AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES REGARDING THE MEASURES ADOPTED BY OTHER MAJOR URBAN AREAS. MR. JACOBS ADDED THAT DISCUSSIONS ARE ALSO IN PROGRESS WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY AT HARWELL, WHO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS CONSULTANTS.
3. A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE SUBJECT OF DAYA BAY WAS RAISED BY BOTH THE BRITISH AND CHINESE LEADERS DURING THE VISIT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM BY SECRETARY GENERAL HU YAOBANG. BOTH SIDES SAW THE NEED FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION AND REASSURANCE, AND THE NEED TO TAKE JOINT STEPS IN ORDER TO ALLAY THE CONCERN OF THE HONG KONG PUBLIC.
CONFIDENTIAL
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