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MEDIA SUMMARY
Media Research Sub-Division, Government Information Services
From: DIS (Mark Pinkstone, OPRS)
To: All Overseas Offices
Date: 12 May 1992
Pages:
Log No: OPRS/LT 336
TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1992
OVERVIEW
A number of issues relating to dangerous slopes, including an Omelco lands panel meeting, a DB meeting and the complaints by Baguio Villas residents, received prominent coverage in the media. An armed robbery in Kai Yip Estate and other items on law and order were played up by a number of papers. Reports widely noted a HKU survey on the death penalty and a CNA commentary on the costs of the new airport. The HKS led with the criticisms by Midland Bank's chief executive, Brian Pearse, on Lloyds' counter offer while the SCM Post played up the Government's list of dangerous slopes.
CHINESE MEDIA
DANGEROUS SLOPES
Omelco panel: Media reports prominently noted that the Government had agreed in principle to make its list of 10,000 dangerous slopes available for public inspection. This was according to legislator Edward Ho after a meeting between officials and the Omelco lands panel. The Omelco panel was also told that an initial report on the mudslip at Baguio Villas would be available in a week.
DB meeting: Reports noted that the mudslip at Baguio Villas was discussed at a Southern DB meeting. It was generally agreed that a co- ordinating centre was required to deal with this kind of confusion. Meanwhile, the authorities had obtained a Court order to close Block 26 of Baguio Villa. Residents were unhappy that the Government had not told them how long the closure of Block 26 would last. They also wanted the temporary housing estate, which they believed to be the cause of the mudslip, to be relocated.
Officials: It was noted that the Secretary for Works, James Blake, in a statement described the mudslip at Baguio Villa and Kennedy Road as "unfortunate", He said that the Geotechnical Office was actively stabilising the slopes and trying to find out the reasons for the mudslips. He said that the Government was taking control and improvement measures to reduce the risks of HK's slopes. Mr Blake also spoke on R-3 this morning on the subject. Legislator Huang Chen-va on R-3 this morning said that the Government should say when it could stabilise the slope at Baguio Villa so that residents of Block 26 knew when they would be moving back.
Deputy Director of Housing Derek Messling said that the Housing Department would discuss with the relevant department about the cause of the mudslip near the temporary housing area there. Measures were being taken to prevent another mudslip at the scene.
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