TNAG-1502-FCO40-2060-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 100

AUG 1886 15:04 TIB(OOU) HK GOVT

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Speaking to reporters afterwards, Miss Tam said that they had several findings.

Firstly, there were two doors to the nuclear reactors and the keys to these doors were kept by an appointed official. This was contrary to an assertion by a Canadian nuclear expert, Walter Patterson, that access to a reactor was unobstructed.

Secondly, France possessed more advanced technology in the use of pressurised water reactors as the country had 34 such reactors and 30 years experience in using them.

Thirdly, measures at the control room had been improved following the Three Mile Island nuclear accident.

The Oriental Daily News noted that only four of the 25 questions carried by the Legco delegates were answered during yesterday's visit.

The paper reported that there were no evacuation plans for areas outside the 10-kilometre radius of the plant.

Media reports said the delegates held a meeting with officials concerned during yesterday's tour. The delegation would visit a nuclear training centre at Lyons later.

In a front-page story, Ta Kung Pao quoted Miss Tam as saying that the French told the delegates that the French authorities took the initiative to promote civic education and allow the public to visit nuclear plants. This had successfully removed public fears.

Miss Tam said that the people in France could express any views they so wished, but the final decision rested with the Government and that the residents could not appeal against any decisions, the papar added.

Sing Tao Jih Pao quoted Mise Tam as saying that there was an executive advisory committee in France which served to collect all views on the construction of nuclear power stations. Two nuclear projects had so far been shelved as a result of public opposition, one in 1981 and the other in 1982.

Miss Tam told Radio-3 that the visit had been useful as the delegates had the chance to observe the way the people there had learned to live with nuclear power.

The Oriental Daily News quoted one of the delegates, Poon Chi-fai, as saying that they hoped the HK Government would commission an independent nuclear consultancy firm in the United States to study the safety aspects of the Daya Bay project.