Summer 'only hope against plant fallout'
Hong Kong has enough nuclear concerns without a third nuclear power plant in Guangdong, an academic warned yesterday.
In the event of a nuclear accident, the SAR would be exposed to radiation as it was located downwind of the plants at Daya Bay and Lingao, said William Barron, associate professor at Hong Kong University's environmental management centre.
'We are directly in the path of prevailing winds. If there is a problem, we should pray it is in summertime,' Professor Barron said.
Hong Kong green groups have protested against a Guangdong Nuclear Power Group plan, reportedly being considered by mainland authorities, to build a nuclear power plant in Yangjiang.
Yangjiang is about 226km from Hong Kong. Daya Bay and Lingao, which is set to open in 2003, are within 50km.
A Security Bureau spokeswoman said the Government had not been told of the plan to build the Yangjiang plant, adding residents of the SAR should not worry about the safety of the plant.
'Because Yangjiang is far from Hong Kong, there would be minimal, if any risk, of Hong Kong being directly exposed to radiation,' the spokesman said.
'As with the Daya Bay plant, the Security Bureau would continually monitor radiation levels.
'Radiation levels in livestock, food and agricultural products coming in from the area would also be monitored.' The mainland Government is considering building eight other nuclear power plants in the next five years.
