CONFIDENTIAL
DAYA BAY
5.
The Governor commented that the excellent reports produced very rapidly by the LegCo fact finding missions had both helped to reassure the territory over Daya Bay and enhanced the credibility of LegCo. But Daya Bay remained a test case for many people in Hong Kong of HMG's willingness to assume its responsibilities.
6. Mr Renton spoke to your brief, underlining that Ministers fully understood the concern which had arisen in Hong Kong over Daya Bay since Chernobyl. The issue had figured prominently in the Government's contacts with the Chinese at every level since.
The Chinese concern had first been registered in Hong Kong. Government appeared to have got the message, and were doing
It was their best to reassure the people of Hong Kong. encouraging that they had invited a LegCo delegation to visit Peking to discuss the project.
7.
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Whatever efforts were made by the Governments of Hong Kong, the UK, and the PRC there could of course be no guarantee that · there would never be an accident at Daya Bay or at the nuclear site in France at Gravelines, which was no further distant from
The fact some English towns than Daya Bay was from Hong Kong.
was that the reactor technology to be used at Daya Bay was a proven design to which the French and several other governments remained committed. HMG also remained fully committed to its nuclear power programme.
8. Ozzie Cheung wondered whether the hard bargain driven by the Chinese in their negotiations with the French had led to
He was told reduced safeguards in the design finally selected. that the French had explicitly assured us that there had been no relaxation of safety standards.
9. Maria Tam, leader of one of the LegCo fact finding missions, said she agreed with the Minister's comments about the French PWR design selected for Daya Bay, and about Chinese reactions so far. She was, however, concerned that the Harwell consultancy which the Hong Kong Government had commissioned might not be receiving the high priority within Harwell which
The initial the political situation in Hong Kong warranted. Harwell report had been much too vague. Concern amongst LegCo members at the absence of hard information was enhanced by the fact that Hong Kong was not a member of the IAEA, and therefore did not receive key documents on Chernobyl and other relevant nuclear matters. It would be very helpful if HMG could arrange
She hoped for relevant IAEA papers to be copied to Hong Kong. it would also be possible for an expert to visit Hong Kong and explain how an adequate nuclear inspectorate could be established. Alan Lee added that it would be helpful for the LegCo delegation due to visit Peking on 17 September could take with it a background note on nuclear inspection systems.
CONFIDENTIAL
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