TNAG-1506-FCO40-2064-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 118

OCT 08 '86 16:42 TIBCOOU) HK GOVT

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In a front page report, SCM Post quoted Mr Ma Fubang as saying that it was "inappropriate" for Mr Jiang Shenjie to head the country's nuclear licensing authority and at the same time retain his post in the Nuclear Industry Ministry. In a rare and frank comment on the possible conflict of interest of Mr Jiang in hia dual role, Mr Ma said the present arrangement was inevitable because of limits in resources in the nuclear industry.

Another report in the SCM Post said France had given China an 80 per cent discount on a contract for French nuclear experts to help assess the safety of the Daya Bay nuclear plant. The contract was due to be signed in November. The paper quoted Zhang Yuman, vice-director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration, as saying that the French started negotiations with a price of 28 million francs. The Chinese managed to persuade the French to cut the fee to 5.6 million francs. Mr Zhang said the French were willing to slash prices because they hoped to publicise their technology and win future contracts through the deal. But one reliable source said the real reason behind the cuts was that China could not afford to pay for the contract, according to the Post.

The front page report in the HK Standard said that members of the Legco delegation gave a vote of confidence to both Chinese nuclear technology and its safety inspectorate system after 'meeting officials. of the NNSA.

Editorially, the Express doubted if China would accept the Legco delegation's proposal for a HK independent advisory committee to take part in the management of the Daya Bay plant. Even if China agreed to the proposal as a means to dissipate the anti-nuclear sentiments in HK, the independence of such an advisory committee would still be in doubt. The paper said the Legco delegation's report and its Peking visit only served to add voice to China's propaganda and would not achieve any practical results.

Sunday, September 21: Yesterday's meeting between Chinese Vice-Premier Li Peng and members of the Legco nuclear fact-finding delegation was extensively reported in the electronic and print media.

One of the leaders of the Legco delegation, Maria Tam, told reporters after the meeting that Chinese leaders were very concerned about HK people's anxiety over the Daya Bay project.

She said that Mr Li had assured her during the meeting that the plant would be safe and a special Bill would soon be passed in the State Council to ensure the independence of nuclear authorities to monitor the plant.

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