TNAG-1506-FCO40-2064-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 86

OCT 16 '86 12:27 TIBCOOL) HK GOVT

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A round-up of media reports and commentaries

on the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station 2.10.86 8.10.86

Thursday, October 2; Legco Unofficial Poon Chung-kwong said after a public function yesterday that he was in favour of invoking the Legco Powers and Privileges Ordinance if Legco was not given the information on the safety and economic aspects of the Daya Bay project as requested, the media reported.

The reports quoted him as saying that great caution should be exercised in using this law because it might affect investors' confidence in HK.

In moderate coverage, the media reported that a spokesman for the Friends of the Earth, Linda Siddall, yesterday urged the Government to make public relevant information relating to the Daya Bay project.

She said that public opposition to the project would be stronger if they knew more about the Daya Bay plant.

Ming Pao, in an editorial, said that concerns that the Powers and Privileges Ordinance might be abused were unnecessary. What was more worrying was whether Legco members would really represent the public in examining information important to the community as a whole.

Friday, October 3: A nuclear safety advisory organisation which was proposed by the Legco nuclear fact-finding delegations and accepted by China would have no executive powers, the HK Economic Journal reported, quoting a report compiled by the Legco delegations after their visit to Peking.

According to the report, which would be discussed at today's Legco in-house meeting, the Guangdong authorities would exchange information and discuss matters relating to contingency planning with HK.

It was stated in the Legco report that overall evacuation plans would be drawn up within the next two to three years. But the report did not mention whether HK would be included in the evacuation plans.

The report said that China had pointed out that the Guangdong environmental protection authorities had signed cross-border agreements with the Royal Observatory to monitor the radiation level of the Daya Bay plant.

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