TNAG-1501-FCO40-2059-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 70

CONFIDENTIAL

BY THE UMELCO STUDY GROUPS.

54597

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B.

7.

INVITATION TO CHINESE NUCLEAR EXPERTS

IT IS OF COURSE ESSENTIALLY FOR THE FRENCH TO DEMONSTRATE

THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE PLANT WHICH THEY ARE TO SUPPLY, AND FOR

THE CHINESE TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE

SAFETY REGIME. WE ARE HOWEVER CONSIDERING HOW WE MIGHT HELP THE

CHINESE IN THIS TASK. WE THINK THAT THIS COULD BEST BE ACHIEVED

BY INVITING A GROUP OF CHINESE EXPERTS TO THE UK. WE ENVISAGE THAT

THEY MIGHT SPEND FIVE WORKING DAYS IN THE UK, OF WHICH ABOUT ONE

AND A HALF DAYS WOULD BE WITH THE NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS

INSPECTORATE (NII), AND THE BALANCE WITH CEGB AND THE SAFETY AND

RELIABILITY DIRECTORATE OF UKAEA. ALL THESE BODIES HAVE AGREED IN

PRINCIPLE TO RECEIVE SUCH A GROUP. SUCH A PROGRAMME WOULD ENABLE

THE CHINESE TO GAIN DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF UK SAFETY AND

REGULATORY PROCEDURES, AND TO DISCUSS ANY PROBLEMS THEY WISHED TO

RAISE IN THESE AREAS.

8.

SUBJECT TO PEKING'S VIEWS, WE PROPOSE THAT THE INVITATION

FOR SUCH A VISIT SHOULD BE ISSUED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE

ANGLO-CHINESE NUCLEAR COOPERATION AGREEMENT. WE WOULD NEED TO

TRY TO GIVE THE INVITATION THE BROAD SCOPE AND POLITICAL

SIGNIFICANCE ENVISAGED FOR COOPERATION UNDER THE AGREEMENT AS

WELL AS TO MEET OUR MORE NARROW PRACTICAL AND PRESENTATIONAL

NEEDS CONNECTED WITH THE DAYA BAY PROJECT. WE THINK THERE SHOULD

BE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO MEET THE COSTS OF GIVING CATEGORY I VISITOR

TREATMENT TO A REASONABLY SIZED DELEGATION (SAY UP TO SIX).

11.

AS TO TIMING, NII SUGGEST THAT

BECAUSE OF PRESSURE OF OTHER WORK THE VISIT SHOULD TAKE

PLACE IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY. THESE DATES WOULD ALSO BE

CONVENIENT FOR THE COI. THIS TIMING IS ACCEPTABLE TO US, BUT WE

SHOULD LIKE TO BE IN A POSITION TO ANNOUNCE THE VISIT FAR SOONER:

AN IDEAL TIME TO DO THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE AROUND THE TIME OF THE

LEGCO DEBATES ON THE UMELCO PANEL VISITS OVERSEAS.

10.

WE SUGGEST THAT EDF (OR SCSN/IPSN, AS APPROPRIATE) MIGHT

ORGANISE A VISIT TO FRANCE BY THE CHINESE EXPERTS EITHER BEFORE

OR AFTER THEIR VISIT TO UK. THIS WOULD COVER THE SAME SORT OF

GROUND AS IN THE UK, BUT OF COURSE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HOW CHINA

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CONFIDENTIAL