TNAG-1658-FCO40-2306-Daya-Bay-nuclear-power-station-project-safety-concerns-in-Ho-1987 — Page 41

NOV 18 '87 15:12 TIB (OOU) HK GOVT

P.3

29.

A round-up of media reports and commentaries

on the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station

5.11.87 11.11.87

-

Friday, November 6 A report compiled by the Guangdong Nuclear Power Joint Venture Company on the "missing bars" incident at the Daya. Bay plant had been given to the HK Government, the media reported in prominent coverage. It was noted that the HK Government had also been told that work on the foundation raft in question would resume

tomorrow.

A number of papers, including Ming Pao, Sing Pao, the HK Times, Sing Tao Jih Pao, the HK Daily News and the Express, reported in prominent headlines that more construction errors had been detected at the plant.

According to the papers and TVB, it was disclosed in the JVC's report that 255 extra metal bars had been inserted in the first layer of the foundation raft. In other mistakes, 32 mm metal bars had been used instead of 25 mm bars as required and some other bars were placed in positions several centimetres off the point as specified in the plans.

The HK Government's statement on the JVC's report was widely reported in the papers. Press reports noted that the Government was satisfied that all reasonable steps had been taken to investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent non-conformance problem and that appropriate remedial measures were being taken.

The Government therefore could see no compelling reasons why normal work at the Daya Bay site should not resume.

Senior Legco Member Lydia Dunn said yesterday she hoped that representatives of the HK Nuclear Investment Company would try their best to avoid recurrence of the mistakes at the Daya Bay site in

future.

Legco member Martin Lee said in yesterday's Legco meeting that explanations on the construction incident were unacceptable.

Another Legco member, Cham Kam-chuen, said in the Legco meeting that he did not take the "missing bars" incident as a surprise as there was no absolute safety. He hoped no similar incidents would happen in future.

Some papers reported that HKNIC officials would give explanations on the remedial measures to be taken at the nuclear plant when they met members of the Legco ad hoc group on the Daya Bay project this morning.