TNAG-1507-FCO40-2065-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 158

704

LB2 AFB

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

Ms Linda Siddall

Hong Kong Friends of the Earth 1424 Prince's Building

Central

HONG KONG

Dear Ms. Siddell,

Telephone 01-

233 4475

-166-L1

Your reference

ра

Our reference

Date

14 October 1986

RECEIVED

REGISTRY

1986

DESK OFFICER

INE A

PA

706

Thank

you

for

your

letter

17 of

September

Prime

I

to the Minister about the proposed nuclear power plant at Daya Bay. have been asked to reply.

The

British

concern

to

Government

its

is

very conscious of responsibility for the well-being and safety of the people of Hong Kong, as

its part of

the territory. overall responsibility for The Government has followed very closely expressions of concern in Hong Kong about the safety of the Daya Bay project and has relayed this

it has the Chinese authorities. In doing so, stressed the need for them to take steps publicly to allay this concern by demonstrating that the plant will be built, operated and managed to

standards of safety.

The Chinese authorities have recently announced several measures to ensure the safety of their civil nuclear power programme and have emphasised that safety and quality are paramount in their planning.

It

China

that

measures

proper

the

was pleasing that the

the Chinese authorities received UMELCO delegation before contracts for the project were signed and has given considerable publicity to the various which it

on intends to implement safety. The British Government feels that these actions on the part of the Chinese authorities indicate that they are indeed taking proper account of the views and concerns of Hong Kong people.

report

Of course, no one can given an absolute assurance that the operation of any power station, whether nuclear or conventional, will be entirely

the problem-free;

UMELCO of the fact-finding team fully recognises this. Against the very low probability of an accident, provided safety aspects are properly

in observed

the design, construction and operation of

the undoubted power stations, power. The British Government, like the Governments of virtually all major industrial countries, is committed to nuclear power to generate part of its energy needs.

set must be

benefits of

nuclear nuclear