TNAG-1500-FCO40-2058-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 221

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JUL 18 188 17.13 TIB (OOL) HK GOVT CUNFIDENTIAL

Weekly Information Report on Sha Tin District

Week ending 11 July, 1986

P.ZI

Daya Bay Nuclear Plant

There is still a very strong expression of opinion on this issue and the opinions were still emotional though slightly better informed: some of the opinions were no doubt formed by those already expressed in the mass media. Important points to

note are :

(1) a not so small a number of contacts accepts the nuclear plant as generator of electricity an obvious trend; but

(ii)

the greatest worry and what a very large number of people suspect is not technology as such but Chinese management;

(iii) they believe the attitude of the Chinese is very firm

(or poor) and there is little regard of Hong Kong views and certainly no attempt is made to soothe Hong Kong feelings. For this reason

(iv)

(v)

they doubt the effectiveness of signature campaign of other forms of objection from Hong Kong;

most people poured cold water on the Legco or SES's overseas visit (should these visits be made before the decision to participate in the JV be decided?);

(vi) most are cynical of Hong Kong's early agreement to the

project because of UK's vested commercial interests;

(vii), although many doubt the effectiveness of technical

experts who are bound to represent special interests, most are of the view that more information would be useful.

· A DB member informed the District Officer, Sha Tin that a group of about 20 people consisting mainly of STDB members and staff from the Chinese University of Hong Kong will meet on Thursday, 10 July to discuss this issue and a press conference will be held on the following Saturday to reflect this Organisation's position. At present they believed they are not adequately informed of the background in order to judge whether such a plant should or should not be built. Tentatively they are of the opinion that the September contract could perhaps be postponed until a public education process could be. further, carried out.

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