TNAG-1503-FCO40-2061-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 22

SEP 05 '86 13:51 TIBCOOU) HK GOVT

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The first draft, which would be ready in a day or two, would be examined by those Unofficials who went on the overseas trips. The report would be finalised by August 30 and discussed at a special Legco in-house meeting on September 3.

According to Sing Tao, a China Light spokesman said that the company was planning a series of publicity activities to release more information about the Daya Bay project step by step. William Stones and other senior officials of the company would be playing key roles in the PR offensive.

Editorially, Wen Wei Po said that the Chinese Government had all along been happy to listen to any view concerning the safety aspect of the Daya Bay plant even when auch views were unscientific or inaccurate. The paper hit out at those who tried to turn to issue into a political matter involving people's confidence. It said that this would only affect HK's prosperity and stability and was not in line with the territory's interests.

The paper said however that the anti-nuclear signatures collected should be attached importance to because they showed that HK people wee very concerned about nuclear safety. This also showed that although preliminary assessments indicated that the plant would be safe, people had still not put their hearts at ease because of the lack of detail information. It hoped that the authoities concerned would attach great importance to public opionion in this respect.

Ta Kung Pao hit out at people who held the view that to show that it respected public opinion in HK, China should shelve the Daya Bay project or relocate the plant. The paper said that these people were not acting in accordance with HK's long-term interests and were just after fame. It said that some individauls had taken advantage of HK people's fear about nuclear safety to collect some signatures and demanded special treatment. They were pompous and had no regard for basic manners. They could not be HK people's representatives.

Tin Tin Daily News said that the anti-nuclear lobbyists had put Chinese leaders in a very difficult position. If top Chinese leaders refused to meet them, people would say that they had no regard for public opinion in HK. If they met them and told them that China was determined to build the N-plant, people would still say that they did not respect local views.

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