TNAG-1958-FCO40-2787-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Daya-Bay-nuclear-power-plant-1989 — Page 129

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1074

OF 031135Z APRIL 89

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL

HKC 166

الكون

1

111070

MDHIAN 8979

MY TELNO 1053: POSSIBLE NEW CHINESE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AT DAYA BAY

1. THE REACTION IN HONG KONG TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW NUCLEAR PLANT AT DAYA BAY HAS BUILT UP QUICKLY. THIS HAS BEEN PARTLY FUELLED BY CONTINUING REPORTS OF STATEMENTS BY MR JIANG SHENG JIE, TECHNICAL ADVISER TO THE CHINESE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WHO WAS FORMERLY HEAD OF THE NATIONAL NUCLEAR SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND IS ALSO DESCRIBED AS A FORMER VICE-MINISTER OF THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY

MINISTRY. THE LATEST REPORT IN THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST OF 3 APRIL REPORTS JIANG AS SAYING THAT CHINA WAS LIKELY TO IMPORT SOVIET NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY THROUGH BARTER TRADE FOR A SECOND PLANT AT

DAYA BAY.

་

2, IN HONG KONG SEVERAL COMMENTATORS HAVE EXPRESSED STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE JOINT CONFERENCE FOR THE SHELVING OF DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PROJECT SAID ON 2 APRIL THAT A SECOND STATION WOULD AFFECT SAFETY AT THE ORIGINAL PLANT. HE ALSO EXPRESSED DOUBTS WHETHER CHINA HAD SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN ITS OWN PLANT. THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE CONFERENCE WOULD PETITION OMELCO AND THE NCNA HONG KONG BRANCH AND WOULD START A SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN. WONG PO-YAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT CA FORMER MEMBER OF LEGCO WELL DISPOSED TOWARDS CHINA), SAID ON 2 APRIL THAT THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF A SECOND PLANT WOULD BE OFFSET BY THE DAMAGING EFFECT ON CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG.

COMMENT

3. I FEAR THAT, IF SPECULATION CONTINUES TO RUN UNCHECKED, THIS NEW SCHEME HAS THE MAKINGS OF A MAJOR CONFIDENCE ISSUE, WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR HMG AND HK AS WELL AS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. PRIVATE COMMENT BY LEADING HONG KONG FIGURES HAS CONFIRMED THAT CONCERN IS NOT LIMITED TO SPECIALIST ANTI-NUCLEAR CAMPAIGNERS OR TO PEOPLE, SUCH AS MARTIN LEE, WITH A VESTED INTEREST IN CRITICISING CHINA. WORRIES WILL BE COMPOUNDED BY THE RECENT DAMAGE TO CONFIDENCE FROM EVENTS WITHIN CHINA AND THE CLUMSY HANDLING OF THE TIANJIN

PETITION.

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