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Nuclear contract important for mainland-HK co-op: Chinese VP

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-30 10:34

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that extending the contract for nuclear electricity supply to Hong Kong was an important measure to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Speaking at a contract-signing ceremony between the mainland-based Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station and the CLP Power Hong Kong Limited at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi said the extension would have a positive influence on Hong Kong's energy security, social and economic prosperity.

He also said great efforts would be made to develop the country's nuclear power to cope with climate change.

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The current contract, under which the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station in south China's Guangdong province supplies 70 percent of its electricity to the HKSAR, will expire in 2014.

The new contract runs until 2034.

Donald Tsang, chief executive of the HKSAR, who also attended the signing ceremony, said the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station has been a good example of cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong.

He said the HKSAR government would continue to support cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong companies in fields such as energy and finance.

Construction of the Daya station started in 1987. It went into commercial operation in 1994. It supplies a quarter of the electricity used in Hong Kong.