TNAG-1499-FCO40-2057-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 114

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FM HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

TO DESKBY 08123OZ FCO

TELNO 2191

OF 081106Z JULY 86

INFO #MMEDIATE PEKING

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RECEIVED IN

INDEX

14 JUL 1986

OFFIC

YOUR TELNO 1356 : DAYA BAY NUCHEAR PLANT

1. MPSS DUNN SPOKE TO ME THIS EVENING ABOUT THE LINK BETWEEN THE TRAVEL PLANS OF THE DELEGATIONS WHICH LEGCO ARE SENDING TO GATHER INFORMATION ON NUCLEAR PLANTS IN USA AND EUROPE: AND THE LIKELY

DATES FOR THE SIGNATURE OF THE MAIN CONTRACT FOR THE NUCLEAR AND

CONVENTIONAL ISLANDS AT DAYA BAY AND THE INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT

WITH HONG KONG, GIVEN THE NEED TO SET UP PROGRAMMES, GET VISAS ETC,

THE DELEGATIONS ARE UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO SET OUT FOR A FEW WEEKS.

AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, NONE OF THE MAIN CONTRACTS HAVE YET BEEN SIGNED BUT THIS MAY, ON THE PRESENT TIMETABLE, TAKE PLACE IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER. F, BEFORE THE LEGCO TEAMS HAVE EVEN REPORTED BACK, HONG KONG WERE FACED WITH A FANT ACCOMPLIR BY THE SIGNATURE

OF THE CONTRACTS THIS COULD BE REGARDED AS HIGHLY PROVOCATIVE HERE.

SHE THOUGHT IT POSSIBLE THAT SOME MEMBERS MAY PROPOSE THAT THE

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ASKED TO CONVEY A REQUEST TO THE

JOINT VENTURE COMPANY, OR TO HONG KONG NHC, TO DELAY SIGNATURE OF

THE CONTRACTS UNTIL THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAVE BEEN REASSURED

ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE PLANT.

GIVEN THE PRESENCE OF GOVERNMENT DIRECTORS ON HONG KONG N.H.C.

THIS COULD PRESENT US WITH A DIFFICULT DILEMMA.

2.

# TOLD MISS DUNN THAT COULD SEE THAT SIGNATURE OF THE

CONTRACTS ON THE TIMESCALE PROPOSED COULD BE TAKEN AS PROVOCATIVE

BY THE OPPONENTS OF THE PLANT IN HONG KONG WITH CORRESPONDING

PRESSURES BEING BROUGHT ON THE MEMBERS OF LEGCO TO MEET IF

NECESSARY IN SPECIAL SESSION. AT THE SAME TIME DID NOT THINK

THAT THE CHINESE WOULD TAKE KINDLY TO BE ASKED, EVEN INDIRECTLY,'

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NOT TO SIGN UNTIL THE LEGCO DELEGATIONS

HAD REPORTED.

3. EVEN THOUGH THE DELEGATIONS MIGHT COME BACK WITH REASSURING

REPORTS ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS ELSEWHERE #IT HIS ALSO POSSIBLE

THAT THEIR REPORTS WILL CONTAIN REFERENCES TO DECISIONS ON NEW

PLANTS BEING DELAYED IN OTHER COUNTRIES FOR VARHOUS REASONS

WINCLUDING THE NEED TO ASSESS THE CONSEQUENCES OF CHERNOBYL. THE

TIMING OF DECISION ON SZEWELL MAY BE RELEVANT.

CONFIDENTIAL

14.