TNAG-1658-FCO40-2306-Daya-Bay-nuclear-power-station-project-safety-concerns-in-Ho-1987 — Page 267

SECRET

FM PEKING

TO DESKBY 30O9OOZ FCO

TELNO 1667

OF 300812Z SEPTEMBER 1987

AND TO DESKBY

SECRET

106

131420

HKC 166/3

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

- 1 OCT 1987

MDHIAN 5283

TOP Q DIST ?

COPY

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Teken

30O9OOZ HONG KONG

104

FOR HUM, HKD: HONG KONG PERSON FOR GOVERNOR.

YOUR TELNO.2596 TO HONG KONG AND HONG KONG TELNO 3676 TO FCO:

DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER STATION.

1. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND AND AGREE WITH THE DESIRE TO GET THE JOINT VENTURE COMPANY TO COME CLEAR, THERE IS OF COURSE ALSO A COMMERCIAL ANGLE.

2.

THE CONVENTIONAL ISLAND FOR DAYA BAY WAS A HARD WON PROJECT.

THERE ARE MANY WHO BELIEVE THE PRICE PAID BY HMG TO WIN THE PROJECT

WAS TOO HIGH. THESE CRITICS WILL NOT BE SLOW TO POINT TO THIS

PROBLEM AS EVIDENCE THAT THE PROJECT WAS AND REMAINS ILL-CONCEIVED.

THIS COULD HAVE SERIOUS IMPLICATION FOR THE BRITISH POWER INDUSTRY'S

REPUTATION (AND PERHAPS GEC'S IN PARTICULAR) IN CHINA AND COULD

AFFECT NEGOTIATIONS ON YUEYANG. I THEREFORE THINK IT ESSENTIAL THAT

THE DTI SHOULD BE BROUGHT INTO THE PICTURE.

3. ALL THAT SAID, WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR PROMPTNESS AND OPENNESS IN PUBLIC HANDLING OF THE PROBLEM. IF SO INSTRUCTED (PARA. 5 OF

HONG KONG TUR), COMMERCIAL COUNSELLOR WILL SEEK A MEETING WITH LIU XUEHONG, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MINISTRY OF NUCLEAR INDUSTRY'S FAB WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NUCLEAR SAFETY MATTERS RELATING TO DAYA BAY.

HOWEVER, OFFICES WILL ALSO BE CLOSED HERE ON 3 OCTOBER. ACTIOIN WOULD THEREFORE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SUNDAY, 4 OCTOBER. LET US HOPE SIR J CATER'S INTERVENTION HAS THE DESIRED EFFECT.

EVANS

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