SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1987
PROGRESS MADE ON DEFENCE TALKS
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DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR R.I.W. UPTON AND DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR GENERAL DUTIES, MR D. TSANG, RETURNED TO HONG KONG TODAY (SATURDAY) FROM LONDON, WHERE THEY HAD BEEN ATTENDING EXPERT LEVEL TALKS BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES ON THE MATTER OF DEFENCE AND PUBLIC ORDER.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT EXPERTS FROM THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES MET IN LONDON ON MAY 27 AND 28 TO DISCUSS QUESTIONS RELATING TO DEFENCE AND THE MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER.
AS AGREED AT THE SIXTH MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, THEY CARRIED FORWARD DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION RELATING TO DEFENCE AND THE MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER IN THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION AND THE NEED FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION IN THIS
AREA.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE ATMOSPHERE AT THE TALKS HAD BEEN EXCELLENT, THAT IT HAD BEEN A GOOD MEETING AND THAT PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE.
HK AID TO FIRE VICTIMS
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THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE $5 MILLION WORTH OF RELIEF SUPPLIES FOR VICTIMS OF THE FOREST FIRE DISASTER IN HEILONGJIANG PROVINCE OF NORTHERN CHINA.
THE RELIEF FUNDS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
THE ACTION WAS TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO AN APPEAL LAST WEEK LY THE CHINESE MINISTRY OF FORESTRY TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FUR AID FOR THE 50 000 MADE HOMELESS BY THE FIRES AND FOR THE THOUSANDS
INJURED IN FIGHTING THEM.
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL BE USING THE $5 MILLION TO PROVIDE FOOD, BLANKETS, AND SOME MEDICAL SUPPLIES. ABOUT 1 800 TONNES OF RICE, 290 TONNÉS OF CANNED MEAT AND 11 TONNES OF BISCUITS WILL BE PROVIDED, TOGETHER WITH 5 000 BLANKETS, 10 000 DISPOSABLE SYRINGES, 10 HOSPITAL AIR MATTRESSES AND QUANTITIES OF BLEACHING AGENT.
CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS HAVE OFFERED TO PROVIDE, FREE OF CHARGE, SPACE FOR A FIRST BATCH OF RELIEF SUPPLIES TO BE SENT OUT ON JUNE 2, (TUESDAY) AND FOR A SECOND BATCH ON JUNE 5.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
ARRANGEMENT HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE PRESS TO COVER THE LOADING OF RELIEF SUPPLIES AT THE AIRPORT ON TUESDAY (JUNE 2). MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE AIRPORT PRESS KUON AT 8.30 AM. GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.