TNAG-1504-FCO40-2062-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 128

SEP 05 '86 14:57 TIBCOOU) HK GOVT

In a related development, Ming Pao quoted a Legal Department spokesman as saying that the AG's chambers would not comment publicly on whether Legislative Councillors could invoke the Legco (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance to press the Government to produce the Lazard Brothers report and other confidential documents on the Daya Bay project.

The spokesman explained that the AG's chambers would not do this because they did not want to influence the decisions of the councillora.

In a front-page story, Sing Tao Wan Pao reported from Manila that the Philippines Government had decided not to use a nuclear plant that had been completed at a cost of HK$27 billion. the Philippine Minister of Budget, Alberto Romulo, told the paper that the Government had assumed control over the project and would be responsible for the debts incurred. He said the Government's decision was based on safety

reasons.

The return of the anti-nuclear lobbyists from Peking was given moderate coverage. Delegation leader Fung Chi-wood said that they were not entirely satisfied with their trip. He said they were disappointed that they had not been allowed to air their views in full. However, he believed that the Chinese authorities would carefully consider the wishes of the people here.

Both SCMP and HK Standard reported in their lead stories that Legco members would be summoned back from their summer holidays for a crucial debate on Daya Bay if a demand by outspoken councillor, Martin Lee, was met.

The papers said Mr Lee was worried that the Daya Bay deal would be signed and sealed before Legco resumed in October.

The Standard carried out a poll among Legco members to find out their views on the move by Martin Lee to call a special sitting to debate the Daya Bay issue.

The paper said the move had drawn mixed reaction from fellow councillors. Most of the councillors who talked to the paper yesterday said they would attend a sitting if the Governor called one. It noted that at least 12 councillors were not in HK.

In an editorial, the HK Economic Journal warned of a confrontation between the Government and Legco over Daya Bay that would not be in HK's best interests. The paper expressed concern that if the Government chose to deny access to vital information, Legco members would become, in the eyes of the public, "a bunch of ignorant people."

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