SPEAKING NOTE
(To be handed to NCNA on 28.1.93)
Daya Bay Nuclear Power station
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The Hong Kong Government were glad when discussions started in June last year on the coordination of the
two sides' contingency plans for a Daya Bay
emergency.
We are however concerned at the slow
progress since then and at the lack of authority given to the Chinese team to discuss anything except off-site emergencies.
we understand that the fuel will be loaded in May. At
that time we will certainly be asked questions about
the state of contingency plans. It is most important
that we agree satisfactory arrangements before then.
China, like the United Kingdom, has adopted the IAEA's
Convention on the Early Notification of a Nuclear
Accident. That Convention refers to the need for
states to provide relevant information about nuclear accidents as early as possible. The Convention applies in all cases in which a release of
radioactivity occurs or is likely to occur and which
has resulted or may result in an international
trans-boundary release. In that event, the state in which the nuclear reactor is located is obliged
immediately to provide all relevant information to
those who may be physically affected.
Hong Kong lies within the emergency planning zone of
the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station. It obtains 75% of
its water, 34% of its fresh foodstuffs, 84% of its
livestock and poultry, and 49% of its milk from China. It is essential that Hong Kong should be given full and immediate information on all standby/plant/ on-site and off-site incidents. Without such warning, it would be too late for Hong Kong to implement
necessary counter measures.
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