TNAG-2828-FCO40-4081-Hong-Kong-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station--Daya-Bay--China-1993 — Page 105

(25)

CONFIDENTIAL

166/1

RECEIVED INE

10 MAR 1993

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

Miss Judith Slater

Non-Proliferation and Defence Department Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Whitehall

London SW1

Direct line 071-238 3778 /Fax: 071- 238-3031

Our ref

Your ref

Date

8 March 1993

REGISTRY Auren Tuk

ethane

mccland

3786

A EDUL

43211

Department of

Trade and Industry

1 Palace Street

London SW1E SHE

Enquiries

071-238 3000

Telex 8813148 DTHQ G

Fax 071-834 3771

ра

I palacest pa

9

HONG KONG: GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION

1.

(21

Last week I briefly discussed Hong Kong Telno 346 with you and with Rod Bunton in HKD. FCO Telno 209 reflects the outcome. Since we agree that the question of raising the Chinese failure to agree regular

regular communication on operational details between the Guangdong power station and Hong Kong needs further reflection, it may be helpful if I set out my points in this letter.

2. I should begin by saying that we here support Hong Kong's aim of securing regular and close communication between Hong Kong and the Guangdong nuclear power plant on operational matters. Timothy Walker has already raised the matter with the Chinese member of the IAEA Board of Governors in the margins of the last Board, and we shall be willing to raise it again, if that seems helpful. Our reservations relate only to the tactic of

the tactic of raising the matter in the Board of Governors.

3.

I have two reservations about this. First, there is no tradition of using the IAEA Board as a means of ventilating or pursuing bilateral grievances. I have never known such a case in nearly seven years experience of the Agency. I doubt very much whether the other members of the Board would welcome it; I believe that the Chinese would have little difficulty in brushing aside such an initiative.

4. Second, I do not see any formal

formal locus for

locus for the IAEA. The arrangements which Hong Kong seeks - as set out in paragraph 3 of Telno.346, go well beyond anything in the 1986 Early Notification Convention. I do not know any other international agreement, to

dti

the department for Enterprise

Recycled P100!

Page 105888 275