TNAG-1500-FCO40-2058-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 191

JUL 16 '86 17:15 TIBCOOL) HK GOVT

CONFIDENTIAL

EXTRACT

North District Weekly Information Report.

Week ending 12 July 1986

(ii)

The Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant saga has also compounded public concern over the future. Some found China's intransigent stand on the project somewhat ominous: it shows that, in pursuit of its own interest, China is ready and prepared to ride rougashod over Hong Kong's feelings.

(3) Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant Project

1

(i)

(11)

Two elected members of the North District Board - Mr CHEUNG Kun-kwai (a grocery proprietor) and Mr CHEUNG Hon-chung (who claims to possess an M Sc degree in nuclear physics from Cambridge University) are agitating for a full-scale debate by the NDB on the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant. They are contemplating putting a motion for discussion to the DB Secretariat. The DB Chairman, Mr PANG Hang-yin, has been toeing a rational line so far: he appeared reluctant to convene a special session of the DB just for the sake of enabling members to let off steam on the subject. In PANG's view, there can be no question of China backing out on the project now and, for this reason, any opposition would be futile. PANG said that in his recent contact with certain senior officials of the New China News Agency, he got the impression that the NCNA was not completley in favour of the project.

Meanwhile, a discreet opinion poll of 19 local contacts indicated a consistent build-up in public opposition against the project on safety grounds. Some, however, are resigned to the fate that the project is bound to go ahead.

P.24