TNAG-1501-FCO40-2059-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 72

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15.

WE SHALL NEED TO PICK UP SUGGESTIONS MADE BY THE CHINESE FOR THEIR OWN INVOLVEMENT IN THE CAMPAIGN TO REASSURE HONG KONG OPINION. ZHOU PING SAID THAT CHINA WAS READY TO SEND NUCLEAR EXPERTS FOR DISCUSSIONS IN HONG KONG AND WOULD INVITE QUOTE INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE UNQUOTE IN HONG KONG TO COME TO PEKING TO LEARN ABOUT CHINESE NUCLEAR POLICY AND SAFETY REGULATIONS. THERE IS OF COURSE A CLEAR RISK THAT THESE CONTACTS COULD ACTUALLY INCREASE UNEASE IN HONG KONG IF THE CHINESE ARE UNCONVINCING OR UNPREPARED. BUT ON BALANCE THIS IS A RISK WE THINK WE MUST TAKE. IT SEEMS ESSENTIAL THAT CHINESE NUCLEAR POLICY-MAKERS SHOULD BE DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO HONG KONG'S CONCERNS AND LEARN WHAT MUST BE DONE TO OVERCOME THEM. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, THEREFORE, WE WOULD PROPOSE TO AGREE TO BOTH SUGGESTIONS. WE SHOULD WELCOME YOUR VIEWS ON HOW TO MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE USE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES. WE WOULD PROPOSE THAT AN INVITATION TO QUOTE INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE UNQUOTE (IN PRACTICE THESE SHOULD INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE UMELCO PANEL ON DAYA BAY) SHOULD BE ISSUED BEFORE THE END OF AUGUST: THE VISIT TO PEKING ITSELF (AND ANY MTSSION TO HONG KONG) MIGHT PRECEDE THE LEGCO DEBATE ON THE UMELCO REPORTS, AND HENCE ALSO CONTRACT SIGNATURE.

16.

THE CHINESE MAY REVERT TO LI PENG'S SUGGESTION THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXPRESS PUBLICLY ITS FIRM POSITION ON THE DAYA BAY PROJECT. IF THEY INSIST, WE WOULD POINT OUT THAT WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN, IN COOPERATION WITH THE FRENCH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS, TO ENSURE THAT THE HONG KONG PEOPLE CAN BE REASSURED ON SAFETY ASPECTS. IT WOULD HOWEVER BE STRONGLY COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE, AT THIS SENSITIVE STAGE, FOR CHINA AND BRITAIN TO SEEM TO BE JOINING TOGETHER TO PUSH THE PROJECT THROUGH REGARDLESS OF THE FEELINGS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE. NEEDED AT THE PRESENT STAGE IS PATIENT EXPLANATION AND

REASSURANCE.

WHAT IS

HOWE

OCMIAN 4597

GUANGDONG

LIMITED

HKD

PED

NED

TRED

[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET]

PS

PS/MR RENTON PS/PUS

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

GUANGDONG NUCLEAR

COPIES TO:

SIR W HARDING

DR SA

INFO.D (VISITS)

PUSD(MR CROWLEY)

WED

MR DAUNT

MR WILSON MR SLATER

HARBIN SON,

(NII, THAMES

THAMES HOUSE SOUTH)

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