Daya Bay launches PR drive on ATV
THE operators of Daya Bay, China's new nuclear plant only 50 kilometres from Hong Kong, have launched an expensive public relations campaign following reports in the Sunday Morning Post that the facility suffered its first scare only weeks after commissioning.
Public concern and media pressure have led to the screening of a six-part ''educational'' mini-series - called Nuclear Safety, on the nuclear industry and the controversial plant - on ATV.
On February 21, a power surge at the station caused auxiliary drain pumps in its turbine generating unit to shut down which in turn sparked the shutdown of the reactor. The incident was the most serious at the plant since operation began on February 1.
The programme, which starts its run on ATV Home tonight, will outline the history of the project.
Yesterday, a spokesman for the joint-venture company running Daya Bay - the Hong Kong Nuclear Investment Company (HKNIC) - said recent media coverage and public concern were contributing factors to the screening of the documentary series.
HKNIC spokesman Albert Chan said the programme would explain ''why'' the Daya Bay site was chosen.
''It will outline the site selection process and the lengthy study of the geological, geographical and seismic conditions. And it will explain the operations side when it is finished,'' he said.
''Public concern about nuclear power is quite apparent because it is something new to Hong Kong society. We have a responsibility to tell the public about Daya Bay - what it is and how it works.
''We touch on nuclear energy and the running of Daya Bay, why the site was chosen and how the operators were chosen.'' ATV said Nuclear Safety was purely advertising.
The 13-minute programmes, which cost about $3 million to produce, can be obtained on video free of charge.
Meanwhile, the Government has reprinted a nuclear contingency plan leaflet six months after it was initially distributed, and done a second print run of a booklet first published in December.
