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GWE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE REGARDING THE BUILDING AND OPERATION OF THE STATION. MANY MEETINGS, DISCUSSIONS AND BRIEFING SESSIONS HAVE BEEN HELD OR ARRANGED FOR MEMBERS AND VISITS HAVE BEEN ARRANGED SO THAT MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND THE MEDHA CAN SEE WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION OF A NUCLEAR POWER STATION (SQUARE BRACKETS BEGIN) WE ARE ENDEAVOUR ING TO ARRANGE A VISIT TO HONG KONG BY ELECTRICHTE DE FRANCE SO THAT MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL MAY BE BRIEFED ON THE DESIGN OF THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR PLANT. (SQUARE BRACKETS ENDS) LET ME RECORD THAT AM GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO HAVE ASSISTED IN THESE BRIEFINGS AND VISITS OR PROJECTED VISITS FOR ALL THEIR HELP.
19. WE RECONGMIZE THAT WITH A NUCLEAR POWER STATION BUILT EVEN 50 KILOMETRES AWAY FROM HONG KONG ITS NECESSARY TO EXAMINE THE MPACT ON HONG KONG AND TO DEVISE ANY APPROPRIATE CONTINGENCY PLANNING. THUS, IN MID-1985, LONG BEFORE CHERNOBYL, THE GOVERNMENT ENGAGED THE SERVICES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC AUTHORITY AT HARWELL TO UNDERTAKE FIVE STUDIES COVERING THE BACKGROUND
RAD PATION MONITORING PROGRAMME, RISK ASSESSMENT, PUBLIC REACTION AND EDUCATION AND APPROPRIATE CONTINGENCY PLANNING. THE CONSULTANTS' RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BACKGROUND RADIATION MONITORING PROGRAMME HAVE ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED. THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEIR CHINESE COUTNERPARTS TO BUILD UP KNOWLEDGE OF THE BACKGROUND RADIATION MONITORING IN HONG KONG AND IN THE VICINITY OF THE SITE. THIS INFORMATION IS OF IMPORTANCE IN THE CONTEXT OF FUTURE RADIATION MONITORING. THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON
OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION STATEGY ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION, AND WORK ON THE STUDY TO ASSESS ACCIDENT PROBABILITIES IS PROGRESSING. IT IS ENVISAGED THAT ALL THE CONSULTANTS' STUDIES WILL BE COMPLETED BY MID-1987 AND THE INTENTION IS TO PUBLISH REPORTS FROM THE CONSULTANTS IN DUE COURSE.
20. AS SAND AT THE OUTSET, DECISIONS IN RELATION TO THE USE OF NUCLEAR POWER HAVE NOW BECOME FAR MORE DIFFICULT. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED THIS AFTERNOON WILL, HAVE NO DOUBT, BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BY THOSE CONCERNED. THE BEBATE IS TIMELY.
21. DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WHAT HAS BEEN SAND TODAY WILL REPRESENT THE LAST WORD ON THE SUBJECT. AS HAVE EXPLAINED, WE ARE ENGAGED UPON A PROGRAMME DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT PROVIDE FULL INFORMATION WITH A VIEW TO GIVING THE COMMUNITY THE REASSUREANCE THAT US NEEDED. THIS TASK INVOLVES PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE THE ISSUES ARE COMPLEX.
22. TO THIS END AS A RESULT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE HONG KONG NUCLEAR INVESTMENT CO. LTD. AM PLEASED TO INFORM MEMBERS THAT AT THE END OF LAST WEEK THE CHAIRMAN, MR STONES, ASSURED ME THAT SERIOUS CONSIDERATHON WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE PUBLICATION OF A MEMORANDUM GIVING CONSIDERABLE DETAILS REGARDING THE WHOLE
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