TNAG-2981-FCO40-1473-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-1982 — Page 109

GRS 375

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

HITE PA 166)!.

FM HONG KONG 270522Z AUGUST 82

TO PRIORITY PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 411 OF 27 AUGUST

GUANGDONG NUCLEAR PROJECT: SAFETY ASPECTS

WE ARE NOW EXAMINING HOW BEST TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS WOULD BE IMPOSED DURING THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE GUANGDONG STATION, SHOULD THE PROJECT GO AHEAD. THIS IS IN VIEW OF GROWING PUBLIC INTEREST IN PARTICULAR ON WHETHER HONG KONG WOULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED, AND HENCE THE IMPORTANCE TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OF BEING ABLE TO TELL THE PUBLIC IN DUE COURSE THAT THERE IS NOTHING

TO FEAR.

2. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORKINGS OF THE STATE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION WHICH WE UNDERSTAND SETS STANDARDS FOR NUCLEAR STATIONS IN CHINA BUT WE CONSIDER IT UNLIKELY THAT CHINA WOULD PERMIT EITHER NII OR

IAEA TO CONDUCT EXAMINATIONS ON CHINESE SOIL.

3. NEVERTHELESS, WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE ON THE COMMISSION, PUTTING PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON ITS STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES, AND ON HOW EFFECTIVE IT HAS BEEN WITH REGARD TO ANY OTHER NUCLEAR

PROJECTS IN CHINA.

4. IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR RESPONSE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL NEED TO WEIGH THE ADVISABILITY OF HIRING INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS TO VET SAFETY STANDARDS AT EVERY STAGE OF

THE PROJECT.

ス

AFZ7/8.

YOUDE

LIMITED

MR GIFFARD

FED

NED

TRED

HK v GD

MR DONALD

MR GILLMORE

ADDITIONAL DIST:

GUANGDONG NUCLEAT

COPIES TO:

MR.G. STEVENS AEZ

D/ENERGY MR BRICE DUS' DO!

CONFIDENTIAL

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