TNAG-1504-FCO40-2062-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 150

SEP 05 '86 15:10 TIB(OOU) HK GOVT

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Umelco member Maria Tam hoped the Chinese and HK Governments would give careful consideration to the report. Allen Lee called on the public to calmly study the report and to make suggestions. He said China should make known its position on the report as soon as passible.

Martin Lee said the report failed to mention whether HK had to use nuclear power from Days Bay. There was no point to ask HK people to take a risk if such a need was not established, although chances of a nuclear accident were remote.

Jackie Chan felt that the report had nothing new as it contained little practical information and was no more than just a "public relations paper." He supported a spacial Legco debate. Pang Chun-hoi told the HK Times that there was nothing new in the report which failed to reflect public opinion.

Chiu Hin-kwong, in an interview with Ming Pao, said the report aimed at giving information so that HK people could obtain safeguards when China decided to go ahead with the project. Like many HK people, he did not want a nuclear plant, but he could do nothing because China would definitely build the plant.

Allen Lee criticised Richard Lai who, as a member of the delegation, should not have made unfavourable comments after the report was released.

Civic Association supported the construction of the plant as it believed that the safety question would be solved. China and JVC should seriously consider the report. It believed that China would accept report's suggestions.

International Affairs College chairman Hocking Wong said the report was comprehensive and would serve to remove public anxiety on nuclear safety.

The media also accorded good coverage to the Governor's arrival in Peking from Chengde. Reports noted that Sir Edward Youde would meet Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Zhou Nan today. The Governer was expected to reflect HK people's concern about the Daya Bay issue at the meeting.

Editorially, Ta Kung Pao said that the report was a result of serious study and analysis and therefore importance should be attached to it. The paper hit out at those who had called the missions a PR exercise. It said that the report was a valuable document to help HK people understand the N-plant issue and should not be dismissed by being described as "containing nothing new" or a "mere PR exercise".

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