TNAG-2829-FCO40-4082-Hong-Kong-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station--Daya-Bay--China-1993 — Page 20

12-NOV-1993 12:09

BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION

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the slightest of risks to the public). Although not explictly said, Mr Zan inferred that China could be expected to act just as responsibly as France in this matter and that the Hong Kong public need harbour no fears. He himself was a nuclear physicist and had been much involved in China''s nuclear submarine development programme. He was all too aware of the problems in this area and of the need to keep the public fully informed. But total transparency had its downside. There were many incidents every day at a power station and nuclear power stations were no exception. However, the vast majority of these incidents were minor and posed no threat whatsoever either to staff on site or to the public at large. But the problem in reporting incidents before a thorough investigation into possible causes had been carried out was that any snippet of news of even minor occurances at a nuclear plant was likely to give rise to rumours and conjecture. He was however aware of the speed with which rumours circulated in Hong Kong and of the desirability of having an effective means of defusing concerns. He thought that the negotiations with his colleagues on the Chinese side; had accepted the need to provide more information to Hong Kong than perhaps is strictly necessary because of public concern, but he claimed țignorance of the details of the discussions. At about this point his interpreter interjected to say that Daya Bay was likely to be more closely monitored than nuclear stations elsewhere in the world. The continuing involvement of staff from Hong Kong Nuclear Investment Company given their links with Hong Kong, and the presence of EdF and Framatone staff (in some cases for a further 20 years), would ensure that. concealment was quite out of the question. Their presence should ensure that the station was properly managed at all times.

None of this will be particularly helpful for your meeting with the Chinese side later this month, but no doubt our oblique request for a new approach to solving the problem will have been noted.

tun hier

Nael ef

J Smith-Laittan