The Lunar New Year festivities provided a welcome opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong people - myself included - to visit relatives and enjoy a brief holiday on the mainland.
By special arrangement, we visited the Daya Bay nuclear power plant in Shenzhen. Those in charge exuded a sense of confidence and pride that Chinese technicians are now running the plant, which uses French technology.
One official mentioned that people in Hong Kong in the 1980s were fearful of the plant, and did not want it to operate. But now, he said, people are fearful that Daya Bay will stop generating electricity for Hong Kong.
Back then, there was a sense of panic in Hong Kong and one million people signed a petition opposing the construction of the plant. Today, there is little sign of any concern.
Although they are proud of the fact that Chinese are now running the plant, those in charge are sober and realistic, explaining that some components still cannot be made in China and have to be imported. That was reassuring.
It was also reassuring to learn that after the South Asian tsunami struck on December 26, a study was conducted to ascertain whether the site, which is on the waterfront, might be vulnerable. The initial conclusion was that the likelihood of a tsunami in that area is low. Still, additional breakwaters are planned to reduce the impact of any such occurrence.
The emphasis on safety is vital, especially since a second nuclear power plant is being constructed in Lingao, 1km east of the existing plant.
