TNAG-2829-FCO40-4082-Hong-Kong-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station--Daya-Bay--China-1993 — Page 194

05.08

93

16:21 FAX 071 238 3031

AE DIY DTI

16611

RECEIVE

CTRY

A. 1993

DESK C

Jonathan Marshall

Hong Kong Department

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Whitehall

London SW1A 2AP

001

pwr Daya Bay

Department of Trade and Industry

Atomic Energy Division

1 Palace Street

London SW1E 5HE

PW

Fax No.

Telex

071 828 7285

Switchboard

Direct Line

8813148 DTHQ G

071 238 3000

071 238 3772.

5 August 1993

Dear Jonathon

TELNO 1266 DAYA BAY : CROSS BORDER TALKS

I have seen and circulated telno 1266 here for comments.

We are not aware of any reports specifically devoted to public information aspects of the accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl on which we can usefully draw. However a discussion with an official in Nuclear Electric who deals with emergency planning suggests that the problem at Three Mile Island was less to do with the quantity of information provided to the public, than with the want of any single authoritative source for that information together with a lack of coordination in the flow of the information itself. This had the unfortunate effect of allowing a number of spurious self-styled experts, however well-intentioned, to contribute to the confusion with their impromptu interpretations of the situation.

Much has been learned in the West in this area since TMI, with exchange of information arrangements now established under the EC and the nuclear Agencies. I understand too that the position on provision of information about more recent incidents in Russia is encouraging. I'm afraid I do not have much to offer on the subject of Chernobyl. The cost of Soviet delay at the time of that accident remains to be calculated.

I am copying to Annabel Jones in ESED.

Yours sincerely

Kenneth Sutherlammal

K M Sutherland

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