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3. THE HUEY FONG IS STILL AT ANCHOR 1.2 MILES SOUTH OF PO TOI
ISLAND AND ITS MASTER HAS APPARENTLY NOT REACHED ANY DECISION.
OR 3A. THE MASTER HAS NOW STATED HIS INTENTION OF ENTERING
HONG KONG WATERS,
OR 3B. AT YOO HRS THE HUEY FONG LEFT ITS ANCHORAGE AND HAS NOW MOVED OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS IS NOW MOVING TOWARDS CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS A SHELTERED MOORING TO THE WEST OF LAMMA ISLAND.
4. A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE DECISION NOT TO PREVENT
HUEY FONG FROM ENTERING HONG KONG WATERS HAD BEEN TAKEN ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS. THE GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY AWARE THAT. THE MAJORITY OF HONG KONG'S PEOPLE SUPPORTED GOVERNMENT ACTION I
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REFUSING TO ADMIT FURTHER LARGE NUMBERS OF REFUGEES TO AN ALREADY OVERCROWDED TERRITORY AND THE ARRIVAL OF SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAD NO RIGHT TO COME TO HONG KONG, CAUSED JUSTIFIABLE CONCERN. NEVERTHELESS CONDITIONS ON BOARD ARE GIVING INCREASING CAUSE FOR ANXIETY, FIRSTLY BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE INFORMATION THAT THERE ARE 3,383 PEOPLE ON BOARD, INCLUDING X00 CHILDREN AND YØØ ELDERLY PEOPLE. THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OVER THE MASTER'S
ESTIMATE OF 2,700. SECONDLY, WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE DETERIORATIN AND A SECOND COLD FRONT IS FORECAST. THESE FACTORS, COUPLED WITH THE INCREASING POSSIBILITIES OF ILLNESS HAVE PROMPTED THE HONG KONG
IT GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO LAND THOSE ON BOARD THE HUEY FONG. HAS NEVER BEEN PRACTICAL TO REDUCE OVERCROWDING ON THE HUEY FONG WITHOUT PROCESSING ALL THE PEOPLE ON BOARD AND THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE IN THE SHELTER OF HONG KONG WATERS.
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5. THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THIS DID NOT, IN ANY
WAY, INDICATE A CHANGE IN POLICY AND STRESSED THAT HONG KONG WOULD CONTINUE TO ADHERE TO THE FIRST SCHEDULED PORT OF CALL PRINCIPLE. THE GOVERNMENT'S RESOLVE TO TAKE A FIRM STAND AGAINST THOSE INVOLVED IN THE ILLEGAL CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS WAS DEMONSTRATED
WHEN TOUGH NEW LAWS WERE PASSED LAST WEEK IN THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
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/6. THE WELCOME NEWS