TNAG-1508-FCO40-2066-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1987 — Page 33

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ENQUIRY WOULD NOT NECESSARILY AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE PROJECT, SINCE THE PLANT WILL NOT BE LOCATED IN HONG KONG, BUT IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC

OF CHINA.

4. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S CONSULTANCY AGREEMENT WITH.

THE UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY, MENTIONED

ABOVE, COVERS SAFETY IN TERMS OF THE ASSESSMENT OF THE

RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHINESE AND

FRENCH AUTHORITIES HAVE SIGNED A LETTER OF INTENT

REGARDING A NUCLEAR SAFETY CO-OPERATION PROGRAMME, WHICH

PROVIDES FOR THE PRODUCTION BY THE GUANGDONG NUCLEAR

POWER JOINT VENTURE COMPANY (WHICH IS TO OPERATE THE

PLANT) OF REPORTS ON SAFETY MEASURES. ELECTRICITE DE

FRANCE (THE FRENCH POWER UTILITY) AND FRAMATOME, THE

CONTRACTOR SUPPLYING THE NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY FOR THE

PLANT, ARE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THESE REPORTS. THERE IS THUS

A STRONG INDEPENDENT INPUT INTO THE ASSESSMENTS WHICH ARE

TO BE MADE OF THE SAFETY OF THE PLANT.

5852 1

5. AS YOU WILL KNOW, THE MAIN CONTRACTS FOR THE

CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANT WERE SIGNED ON 23 SEPTEMBER.

I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE THAT THE ANSWERS GIVEN ABOVE FULLY

DEMONSTRATE THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN ALL

REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS FOR THE WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG

PEOPLE IN SO FAR AS THE DAYA BAY PROJECT IS CONCERNED.

ON A MORE GENERAL NOTE, I SHOULD ADD THAT HER MAJESTY'S

GOVERNMENT HAVE FOLLOWED CLOSELY THE DEBATE IN HONG KONG

ENDS

HOWE

ON DAYA BAY, AND HAVE STRESSED TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES

THE NEED FOR THEM TO TAKE STEPS TO MEET THE CONCERNS OF

HONG KONG PEOPLE. ON THE BASIS OF OUR EXCHANGES WITH

SENIOR CHINESE LEADERS AND THE ANNOUNCEMENTS THEY HAVE

MADE ON SAFETY MATTERS, WE ARE SATISFIED THAT THEY ARE

APPROACHING THESE MATTERS WITH THE UTMOST SERIOUSNESS,

AND THAT THE PROJECT SHOULD ACCORDINGLY GO AHEAD.

OCMIAN 5852

GUANGDONG

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