[
SECRETARY OF STATE AND PRIME MINISTER IN LONDON ON 10-16
SEPTEMBER, THAT OFFICIALS WERE CONSIDERING WHAT MINISTERS SHOULD
BE ADVISED TO SAY TO THEM ABOUT DAYA BAY, AND THAT IT WOULD
OBVIOUSLY BE HELPFUL IF THEY COULD SAY THAT WE KNEW, FROM OUR
EXCHANGES WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES, THAT THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO CONTINUE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE IN THE
POST-COMMISSIONING PHASE OF ALL APPROPRIATE FACILITIES, ADVICE
AND EXPERTISE AVAILABLE INTERNATIONALLY IN THE FIELD OF NUCLEAR
SAFETY. MIFT CONTAINS A SUGGESTED LINE TO TAKE ON THIS. WE ARE
CONTENT FOR YOU AND HMA PEKING TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PLAY THIS
CARD, AND IF SO, EXACTLY HOW, AFTER YOU ARRIVE IN PEKING.
5.
THE MEETING ALSO AGREED ON THE NEED FOR MINISTERIAL
ASSURANCES TO THE EXCO MEMBERS VISITING LONDON. THERE ARE
OBVIOUS DIFFICULTIES ABOUT THIS. ONE IS THAT THE EXCO MEMBERS
WILL WANT TO BE ABLE TO PASS ON (OR AT LEAST REFER TO) ANY
ASSURANCE THEY HAVE RECEIVED TO HONG KONG PEOPLE. MY SECOND IFT
CONTAINS A PRELIMINARY DRAFT LINE WHICH MINISTERS MIGHT BE
ADVISED TO TAKE. IT WILL NEED TO BE AMENDED IN THE LIGHT OF
CHINESE REACTIONS TO OUR VARIOUS APPROACHES TO THEM. WE MAY ALSO
SEEK FURTHER INFORMATION FROM THE FRENCH ABOUT THE DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION PHASES. AND THE UMELCO REPORTS ON THEIR OVERSEAS
VISITS (GRATEFUL FOR THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE INFORMATION ABOUT
THESE) MAY PRODUCE SOME QUOTABLE QUOTES. THE LINE MIGHT
POSSIBLY BE PUT TO THE EXCO MEMBERS FOR THEIR ADVICE ON WHETHER
IT WOULD BE USEFUL IN CALMING PUBLIC OPINION IN HONG KONG, AND ON
HOW IT MIGHT BEST BE CONVEYED TO HONG KONG PEOPLE. OUR OWN THINKING ON THIS IS STILL AT AN EARLY STAGE. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.
YOUNG
OCMIAN 8963
[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET]
GUANGDONG
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