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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1983
+THE MAIN IMPRESSION I GET WAS THAT IF THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED, THIS IS A TRIBUTE ALSO TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHO WERE VERY SENSIBLE. THEY EXERCISED PRECAUTIONS AND PRUDENTLY KEPT AT HOME WHEN THEY WERE ASKED TO DO SO, HE SAID.
IT WAS ALSO QUITE CLEAR THAT THERE WAS QUITE A LOT OF TROUBLE IN THE HARBOUR AND SOME IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE ADDED.
BEFORE PROCEEDING TO QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL, SIR EDWARD ALSO VISITED THE HONG KONG ISLAND REGIONAL COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTRE OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE REGIONAL COMMANDER, HONG KONG ISLAND, MR JOHN SHEPPARD, HE TOURED THE CONTROL CENTRE AND GOT FIRST HAND INFORMATION ON HOW POLICE COPED WITH THE HAVOC CAUSED BY THE STORM.
HE ALSO SPOKE TO TRAFFIC POLICEMEN AND OFFICERS ATTACHED TO THE EMERGENCY UNIT WHO WERE ENGAGED IN VARIOUS DUTIES DURING THE STORM.
CONCERN ABOUT STORM CASUALTIES
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IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS ARRIVAL YESTERDAY (FRIDAY) EVENING THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN OVER THE SEVERITY OF THE STORM WHICH HIT HONG KONG.
+1 WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE SUFFERED IN THE STORM AND TO SAY THAT I WAS VERY PLEASED TO HEAR HOW WELL THE EMERGENCY SERVICES HAVE BEEN COPING WITH THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD, HE SAID.
SIR EDWARD WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT ON ARRIVAL FROM LONDON.
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT HE WAS KEPT GENERALLY INFORMED ON WHAT WAS GOING ON IN HONG KONG WHILE HE WAS AWAY.
+BUT I WILL NOW NEED TO CATCH UP IN DETAIL AND I AM SURE SIR PHILIP IS JUST ABOUT TO GIVE ME A FULL REPORT OF ALL THE EVENTS OF THE LAST 24 HOURS AND THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE, HE SAID.
+THEN I WILL BE CONTINUING WORK ON THE STATEMENT WHICH I AM GOING TO MAKE TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID.
THE MOST
SIR EDWARD ADDED THAT WHILE HE WAS IN LONDON ON HOLIDAY HE ALSO HAD TWO ROUNDS OF TALKS WITH MINISTERS RECENT ONE WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND MR RICHARD LUCE.
/-DURING THOSE