TNAG-1507-FCO40-2065-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 123

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Job No. 144070 (A)

HANSARD//OCT15:14

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 15 October 1986

In the debate on 16 July last, I told Members that the Administration shared this general concern expressed by Members of this Council, and I indicated the steps we had been taking to urge all those involved in the project to take fully into account the concerns being expressed in Hong Kong over safety matters. The fact-finding missions by Members were, of course, part of the process and the information obtained did much to reassure those who studied the report.

So now, Sir, I shall deal with the report by the fact-finding delegations on their visits to the United States, Europe and Japan. Miss Maria TAM and Mr. Allen LEE have asked me to respond and I shall do so.

The report contains 50 observations, seven of which are directed at the Hong Kong Government for consideration. These observations, which are all safety related, cover contingency planning, the need for closer cross boundary co-operation, a greater effort in providing information to the public, the need to set up an independent committee to advise on matters related to nuclear energy, and a suggestion that Hong Kong should consider membership of the Inter- national Atomic Energy Agency. The Government appreciates the significance of these seven observations and will seek to implement all of them in so far as it is practicable. I shall now give, in detail, the Government's comments on these seven observations.

The Government agrees with the first three observations which relate to contingency planning. The first observation is that a contingency plan should be drawn up for those areas which lie within 50 miles of the Daya Bay plant for protective measures in the event of radiological releases affecting Hong Kong (ref. 5.3.2.(1) of the report). Although a number of contingency plans and a well-tried civil control system exist to co-ordinate all emergency services during accidents and natural disasters, the Government nevertheless accepts that, as a matter of prudence, a detailed contingency plan should be prepared to deal with the remote possibility of an accident at Daya Bay resulting in risks to Hong Kong. With this in mind, the Government, in mid 1985, engaged the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority at Harwell to provide expert advice. Harwell's report providing guidance for the preparation of a detailed con- tingency plan is expected before the end of this year. Using the information provided in this report, and suitably adapting the well-founded principles on which existing contingency plans have been based, an appropriate contingency plan to meet Hong Kong's circumstances will be prepared. Once completed, it will be added to the range of contingency plans already held by the Government and will be regularly reviewed and kept up-to-date.

The second observation proposes that protective measures should be planned against the contamination of water supply, vegetables and other food and dairy products (ref. 5.3.2.(2) of the report). The Government already has certain contingency plans to deal with the disruption of food and water supplies, but these require adaptation in relation to the Daya Bay project. Accordingly, Harwell will provide specialised advice as part of its consultancy on the