TNAG-1500-FCO40-2058-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 204

JUL 16 '86 17:03 TIB(OOU) HK GOVT

WIR for the week ending 11.7.86 from DO(YMT)

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(a) Daya Bay Nuclear Plant

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The campaign against the Daya Bay project organised by the Hon. Szeto Wah had caused backlash. Many of our respondents criticised him and his Professional Teachers' Union for using school. children to obtain the signatures of their parents. They stressed that it was unethical to use children, who are not yet able to make independent judgement, to achieve political goals.

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Interest in this issue had not faded away. Comments picked up by the District Office on the project were overwhelmingly not in support. No assurances on the safety of the proposed plant had allayed the fears of our respondents.

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However, a few district leaders began to speak up in public in support of the construction of the nuclear plant at Daya Bay in the face of mounting opposition. Ng Tor-tai was among these few. They somehow adopted a common strategy. First they pleaded that the Hong Kong people should not become emotional over the proximity of the plant to Hong Kong. They then quoted examples in other countries where nuclear plants were located near big cities. They furthered their arguments for the Daya Bay plant by saying that various authorities, including Yang Chen-ning, had opined that the plant would be safe. They concluded by urging the Hong Kong and Chinese Governments to disclose more information on the nuclear plant so that the Hong Kong people would know more about nuclear energy.