TNAG-1632-FCO40-2248-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong--including-visit-1987 — Page 130

CONFIDENTIAL

4.

During the Executive Council's visit to London in September 1986, the Prime Minister assured the members of ExCo that Britain

was fully aware of her responsibilities for the welfare and

well-being of the people of Hong Kong, and had relayed Hong Kong's concerns over the Daya Bay plant to the Chinese government on

several occasions. Mrs Thatcher emphasised that in the light of our discussions with other governments concerned, HMG is confident that

the construction, operation and management of the plant will be

carried out to the highest possible safety standards.

5.

Since the contracts were signed last September, concern in

Hong Kong has abated somewhat over the issue. It is now clear that

an important element in the strength of the anti-Daya Bay coalition

was a wish to establish how far LegCo was subject to the pressure of public opinion on a major issue of this kind. The energies of many of this group have consequently now been diverted to supporting the

campaign for direct elections, in an effort to ensure that in future

LegCo is more "democratic" and thus more responsive to public opinion. But the issue has not disappeared altogether and indeed

may re-emerge as the plant nears completion. Another major accident at a foreign plant - and above all at a British, French or Chinese

one could well make pressure for the Hong Kong Government to

withdraw its support from the project all but uncontainable.

6.

As the Hong Kong Government has no experience of nuclear

installations, it has relied on foreign expertise to advise on issues relevant to the nuclear power industry. In 1985, the Hong Kong Government engaged the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) to

undertake studies covering background radiation monitoring

programmes, risk assessment, public education and contingency

planning. While some of these reports have been completed and their

recommendations implemented, the events at Chernobyl and the

resulting public outcry prompted the Hong Kong Government to ask the

UKAEA to undertake further research. This research is still

continuing, and the Hong Kong Government expects to receive the

UKAEA's reports soon.

Hong Kong Department September 1987

CONFIDENTIAL