TNAG-1958-FCO40-2787-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Daya-Bay-nuclear-power-plant-1989 — Page 131

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 1053

OF 01043OZ APRIL 89

AND TO PRIORITY PEKING

RESTRICTED

HKC166/1-

107120

MDLIAN 9332

TOP COPY Q DIST?

DAYA BAY : PLANS FOR FUTURE NUCLEAR PLANTS: BTC TELNO 97

DAKC166/2

1. SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST OF 31 MARCH REPORTED THAT MR JIANG SHENGJIE, A TECHNICAL ADVISER TO THE CHINESE NUCLEAR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, HAD SAID IN PEKING THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WERE CONSIDERING AN INITIAL DOLLARS OPEN BRACKETS PERSUMABLY HONG KONG CLOSE BRACKETS 23.4 BILLION INVESTMENT IN A SECOND NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AT DAYA BAY. MR JIANG HAD SAID THAT USING THE EXISTING DAYA BAY SUPPORTING FACILITIES COULD SAVE UP TO

DOLLARS 1.56 BILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT. HE ALSO SAID

THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAD NO IMMEDIATE PLAN TO INVITE PARTNERS FROM OUTSIDE THE MAINLAND TO TAKE PART IN A NEW PROJECT.

COMMENT

2. THIS REPORT CONFLICTS WITH EARLIER INFORMATION. IT MAY WELL ONLY REPRESENT THE FLOATING OF A POSSIBLE SCHEME AND WILL COME TO

NOTHING. BUT INEVITABLY ANY SUGGESTION OF A NEW NUCLEAR PLANT NEAR

HK RAISES HACKLES HERE. MARTIN LEE HAS ALREADY COMMENTED ADVERSELY

ON THE REPORT.

3. WE ARE MAKING ENQUIRIES THROUGH CHINA LIGHT AND POWER HERE TO

SEE WHAT THEY CAN ADD. WE HAVE ALSO ASKED NCNA HERE IF THEY HAVE

ANY INFORMATION. THEY HAVE NOT BUT HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO FIND OUT. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE EMBASSY COULD ALSO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENQUIRE WHAT IS BEHIND MR JIANG'S REPORTED REMARKS. ANY

INFORMATION ON CHINESE PLANS FOR FURTHER NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND

THEIR LOCATIONS WOULD BE HELPFUL.

WILSON

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