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WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1989

FC APPROVES FUNDS FOR VBP ACCOMMODATION * * * * *

A

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) GAVE FINANCIAL APPROVAL FOR THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION TO COPE WITH CONTINUING INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE.

FUNDS TOTALLING 9193.7 MILLION WERE APPROVED AS CAPITAL COSTS FOR THE PHASED CONSTRUCTION OF STAGES 3 AND 4 OF THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE

FOR THE CONVERSION OF LO

CAMP INTO A

TEMPORARY HOLDING CENTRE.

AND

WU

THE COMMITTEE ALSO APPROVED $34.3 MILLION AS SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION FOR THE OPERATION OF THE NEW ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES.

PEOPLE

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, 4,633 VIETNAMESE BOAT

CENT OVER THE SAME HAD ARRIVED IN HONG KONG, AN INCREASE OF 89 PER PERIOD LAST YEAR.

BASED ON THE 1988

TO COPE

EXPERIENCE,

THAT MEMBERS WERE TOLD CONSIDERING THE ARRIVAL RATE SO FAR THIS YEAR, THE SPARE CAPACITY AVAILABLE WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT

WITH ARRIVALS OVER

PEAK SUMMER MONTHS.

AND

NOW

THE

IT HAS THEREFORE BEEN NECESSARY TO PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT FURTHER DETENTION CENTRE ACCOMMODATION.

OF

STAGES 3 AND 4 OF THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION

PEOPLE TOTAL OF 10,000

AND WILL BE

SEPTEMBER TO THE END OF THE YEAR.

CENTRE

COMPLETED

CAN HOLD A FROM PROGRESSIVELY

THE CENTRE AT LO WU CAMP CAN HOLD UP TO 1,800 PEOPLE AND BE NECESSARY IN READY IN ABOUT TWO TO THREE MONTHS' TIME, TO BE USED IF PLACE OF ERSKINE AS A TEMPORARY HOLDING CENTRE FOR NEW ARRIVALS.

-

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE TO MEET TOMORROW

THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TOMORROW (THURSDAY) ON THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT ON THE RESULTS OF VALUE FOR MONEY AUDITS.

APPEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TO ANSWER POINTS RAISED IN THE REPORT WILL BE THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, POSTMASTER GENERAL, AND DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,

/THE PUBLIC

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