TNAG-1499-FCO40-2057-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 121

CONFIDENTIAL

48665

2

TO GIVE EARLY REASSURANCE TO HK PUBLIC OPINION EDF HAVE

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 WITH JOURNALISTS PRESENT. 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. HOPE PRCG WILL WISH TO ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH THIS

INVITATION IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY. THIS WILL HOWEVER ALMOST

CERTA INLY 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.

3

ALSO TO REASSURE HK OPINION, HMG PROPOSE A LIAISON VISIT

BY BRITISH NUCLEAR EXPERTS FROM UKAEA TO RECEIVE A BRIEF FROM

CHINESE COUNTERPARTS ON THE DAYA BAY POWER STATION, ESPECIALLY ON

SAFETY ASPECTS OF MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION AFTER THE PLANT HAS

BEEN COMMISSIONED. FOR THE SAME REASON WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO

EXTEND AN INVITATION TO INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN HONG KONG TO VISIT

PEKING AND DAYA BAY SITE.

ALL OF THESE VISITS WILL HELP COUNTER PUBLIC CONCERNS AS

EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG. BUT THEY WILL LOSE MUCH OF THEIR EFFECT

UNLESS THEY ARE BACKED UP BY EARLY AND SUBSTANTIVE ACTION BY THE

CHINESE GOVERNMENT. IN PARTICULAR, WE HOPE THAT THE FULLEST

PUBLICITY CAN BE GIVEN TO THE IMPORTANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF

THE NUCLEAR SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND THE MEANS BY WHICH IT

INTENDS TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF IMPECCABLE SAFETY STANDARDS

THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD AND THEREAFTER. WE PROPOSE

THAT THE CONTENT AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THIS PUBLICITY ARE

CONSIDERED IN ADVANCE COLLECTIVELY BY ALL THREE GOVERNMENTS TO

MAXIMISE ITS IMPACT IN REASSURING HONG KONG. WE WERE GLAD TO

NOTE THE STATEMENT MADE IN PEKING ON 27 JUNE ABOUT THE NEW

2

CONFIDENTIAL

-

1

↓.