TNAG-1500-FCO40-2058-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 194

JUL 16 '86 16:53 TIB(OOU) HK GOVT

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The Kwan Chung/Tsing Yi DB yesterday discussed the project. Some members felt that HK should not take part in the project. In its front page lead, Wen Wei Po quoted the visiting EEC chairman as speaking at a press conference in Peking that China would send a delegation of nuclear experts to the EEC later this year to study the safety measures adopted at nuclear power plants there.

Editorially, the HK Daily News said that the points made by nuclear physicist Walter Patterson were pertinent and should be attached importance. The paper said that the Daya Bay project should be shelved before absolute safety could be ensured.

The Express said that the assurance given by China on N-plant safety was not based on experience because the country had not operated an N-plant before.

Yu Karyin of the HK Economic Journal said that Daya Bay was not the only suitable place to build an N-plant. China should take HK people's views into consideration and move the plant to a place further away from the territory.

Tin Fung Yat Po maid that no aoiontifia produat wao aboolutaly cafe. Even gas and LPG, which were commonly used, could explode.

Saturday, July 5: The meeting between the Umelco public utilities panel and experts from the Daya Bay project was extensively reported. Several Legco members were not satisfied with the safety assurances given by the experts. Sir Jack Cater, the first deputy general manager of the joint venture company, told the press after the meeting that HK should participate in the project because if HK was not involved, it would not have any say in the operation of the plant. He believed China Light would proceed with the project.

Following an inhouse meeting, Legco members decided to organise fact-finding visits to countries which had nuclear power plants. They would visit countries where nuclear plants were being developed as well as countries which had scrapped nuclear projects.

The papers also picked up TVB's interview with director of China's Nuclear Safety Bureau Jiang Shengjia. Mr Jiang noted that one of the conditions stated in the agreement for the purchase of generator equipment from Britain was that HK would buy electricity from the plant. He said that China Light only had a ten per cent capital share in the project and therefore its withdrawal would not affect China's decision. He felt that China Light was unlikely to pull out because it would have to face the legal consequences. He also believed that the possibility of HK not buying electricity from Daya Bay was not high. It was reported that Chinese nuclear experts were planning to hold a large exhibition on nuclear energy in HK. Wen Wei Po, Ta Kung Pao and Wah Kiu Yat Po published the document on the operation of the Daya Bay plant provided by the Quangdong Nuclear Power Joint Venturo Company at tha Umelco public utilities panel meeting.

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