TNAG-1503-FCO40-2061-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 91

OCMIAN 0078

CONFIDENTIAL

DD 04010OZ HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

03170OZ SEP

GRS 678

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 040100Z HONG KONG

TELNO 1878

OF 03170OZ SEPTEMBER 86

INFO IMMEDIATE PARIS,

HLL

166/1

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d

PEKING

MIPT: DAYA BAY: EXCO VISIT TO LONDON

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FOLLOWING IS OUR REVISED DRAFT LINE FOR UK MINISTERS.

BEGINS

1.

WE APPRECIATE THAT EXCO AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE

LOOKING TO HMG FOR ASSURANCES ABOUT THE DAYA BAY PROJECT.

2.

AS PART OF ITS OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HONG KONG THE

BRITISH GOVERNMENT ACKNOWLEDGES ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY

OF ITS PEOPLE. IT IS DETERMINED TO DISCHARGE THIS RESPONSIBILITY

FULLY AND SERIOUSLY.

3.

WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE DEBATE IN HONG KONG ON DAYA BAY

CLOSELY AND IN GREAT DETAIL. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BEGINNING

WITH THE VISIT OF HU YAOBANG TO THE UNITED KINGDOM IN JUNE,

MINISTERS AND OUR AMBASSADOR IN PEKING HAVE STRESSED TO CHINESE

MINISTERS AND SENIOR OFFICIALS THE NEED TO BE ALIVE TO THE CONCERNS OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY, AND TO TAKE STEPS TO ALLAY

THEIR FEARS. I CAN THEREFORE REASSURE EXCO THAT WE HAVE CONSCIENTIOUSLY CARRIED OUT OUR RESPONSIBLITY TO THE PEOPLE OF

HONG KONG IN CONVEYING TO THE CHINESE THE CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE

EXPRESSED.

4.

YOU WILL UNDERSTAND NO ONE CAN GIVE AN ASSURANCE THAT

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