FRIDAY, AUGUST 4. 1989
VBP CENTRE IN SAI KUNG WILL CAUSE LEAST DISRUPTION
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT AFTER TAKING ALL FACTORS INTO CONSIDERATION. TO PROCEED WITH BUILDING A TEMPORARY VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE CENTRE IN SAI KUNG WOULD. ON BALANCE. RESULT IN THE LEAST DISRUPTION TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
"WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE VERY REAL PROBLEM OF PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION TO COPE WITH THE CONTINUING INFLUX OF BOAT PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM.
"THIS IS SOMETHING WHICH MUST BE DONE UNTIL WE HAVE IN PLACE PROPER ARRANGEMENTS TO SEND BACK THOSE WHO ARE SCREENED OUT AS
HE SAID.
NON-REFUGEES.'
THE SPOKESMAN SAID ALL THE CONCERNS RAISED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO OBJECTED TO BUILDING THE CAMP THERE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AND MET REASONABLY.
ON WORRIES THAT WATER AT THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR MIGHT BE BELOW THE POLLUTED. HE REITERATED THAT THE CAMP WOULD BE SITED WELL DAM OF THE RESERVOIR AND THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF ANY WASTE WATER FROM THE CAMP FLOWING UPHILL.
"IN ADDITION, THE DAM ITSELF HAS BUILT-IN ANTI-SEEPAGE FEATURES." HE SAID.
WASTE WATER FROM THE CAMP WILL BE PROPERLY TREATED THROUGH SETTLEMENT TANKS AND SAND FILTRATION. AND OTHER WASTE WILL BE COLLECTED IN METAL TANKS AND TAKEN TO SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT.
"NO UNTREATED WASTE WATER OR OTHER WASTE WILL BE DISCHARGED INTO THE SEA." THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ON CONCERNS RAISED BY FISHERMEN THAT NEARBY FISH CULTURE ZONES URN MIGHT BE AFFECTED. THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEAREST FISH FARMS. OFF ISLAND, WERE MORE THAN THREE KILOMETRES AWAY FROM HIGH ISLAND BY SEA.
"IN ADDITION. THE TIDAL FLUSHING EFFECT
IN ROCKY HARBOUR IS VERY STRONG AND THERE IS NO DANGER OF THESE FISH FARMS BEING POLLUTED AS A RESULT OF THE TEMPORARY CAMP. HE SAID.
ON SECURITY. THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE CAMP WOULD BE THREE KILOMETRES AWAY FROM THE NEAREST VILLAGE. THE ENTIRE CAMP WILL BE ENCLOSED BY A 17-FOOT-HIGH FENCE WITH BARBED WIRE ON TOP.
"IT WILL ALSO HAVE A CONCRETE BASE AND A SEVEN-FOOT-HIGH SHEETS ATTACHED TO IT TO SHIELD IT FROM OUTSIDE." HE SAID.
METAL
THE SPOKESMAN SAID ALTERNATIVE SITES SUGGESTED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS HAVE ALL BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE GOVERNMENT BEFORE.
"THESE SITES