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FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1984
SIR PETER VISITS REFUGEE CENTRES
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SIR PETER BLAKER CHAIRMAN OF THE BRITISH HONG KONG PARLIAMENTARY GROUP, TRAVELLED BY HELICOPTER THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON TO VARIOUS VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CENTRES.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR CLINTON LEEKS AND THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES (INSPECTORATE AND REFUGEE UNIT), MR BARRY HIGGINBOTTOM, SIR PETER FIRST VISITED THE CHI MA WAN CLOSED CENTRE ON LANTAU ISLAND.
HE WAS MET AND SHOWN AROUND BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, MR GA EBRAHIM.
SIR PETER WAS TOLD THAT THE CENTRE, ONE OF THE CLOSED CENTRES RUN BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, NOW ACCOMODATES SOME 1 900 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY WAS INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN JULY, 1982 WITH THE AIM OF DETERRING THOSE CONSIDERING LEAVING VIETNAM ILLEGALLY FOR HONG KONG.
AFTER THE TOUR, SIR PETER LEFT FOR THE RHKAAF BASE AT KAI TAK FROM WHERE HE PROCEEDED TO THE KAI TAK TRANSIT CENTRE.
ON ARRIVAL, SIR PETER WAS MET BY MR HENRY LOKE, CENTRE MANAGER, MR M.C. MORGAN, CHAIRMAN OF CENTRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, MR K.L. STUMPF, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF CENTRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND MR PETER MEIJER, DEPUTY CHARGE DE MISSION, UNHCR. HE WAS BRIEFED ON ITS VARIOUS FACILITIES AND PROGRAMMES WHILE TOURING THE CENTRE.
ABOUT 4 300 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ARE STAYING AT THIS TRANS IT CENTRE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE OPEN CENTRES RUN BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES UNDER UNHCR AUSPICES.
EARLIER IN THE DAY, SIR PETER MET THE SENIOR BRITISH TRADE COMMISSIONER, MR CHRISTIAN ADAMS AND HAD A BRIEFING WITH THE POLITICAL ADVISER, MR ROBIN MCLAREN.
HE ALSO HAD LUNCH WITH THE CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR DENYS ROBERTS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
SIR PETER TO MEET PRESS SATURDAY
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SIR PETER BLAKER, CHAIRMAN OF THE BRITISH HONG KONG PARLIAMENTARY GROUP, WILL MEET THE PRESS TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT 10.30 AM IN THE ĜIS THEATRE, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, FIFTH FLOOR.
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