MONDAY, AUGUST 7. 1989
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SDA ASSURES SAI KUNG RESIDENTS ON VBP CENTRE
THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION. MR DONALD LIAO. SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TRY ITS BEST TO ADDRESS ALL THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY SAI KUNG RESIDENTS RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TEMPORARY DETENTION CENTRE FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE NEAR THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR.
MR
DURING A MEETING WITH TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE RESIDENTS. LIAO SAID THE GOVERNMENT UNDERSTOOD THEIR WORRIES AND WOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MINIMISE THE INCONVENIENCES TO THE PUBLIC.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE MEETING WERE SENIOR OFFICIALS FROM THE SECURITY BRANCH, THE POLICE, THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
THE RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVES WERE TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WOULD BE DONE TO ENHANCE THE SECURITY OF THE PLANNED DETENTION CENTRE. THESE INCLUDED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 17-FOOT-HIGH FENCE AROUND THE
CENTRE.
THE
UP TOSEVEN CHANCE OF
THE FENCE WOULD BE SEALED WITH STEEL SHEETS FEETABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THIS WOULD DRASTICALLY REDUCE THE FENCE BEING CUT OPEN.
AT THE MEETING, THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE MR JOHN SHEPPARD ALSO GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT THERE WOULD BE ADEQUATE MANPOWER TO POLICE THE DETENTION CENTRE AND NEARBY AREAS.
AS REGARDS RESIDENTS' FEAR THAT THE EXISTENCE OF THE VBP CENTRE WOULD POLLUTE THE AREA, THE EPD REPRESENTATIVE SAID ALL WASTE WATER WOULD BE TREATED BEFORE IT WAS DISCHARGED INTO THE SEA. ALSO, DRY LATRINES WOULD BE PROVIDED BOTH INSIDE THE CENTRE FOR ITS INMATES AND OUTSIDE THE CENTRE FOR POSSIBLE VISITORS.
THE RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVES WERE ALSO TOLD THAT SINCE THE SITE FOR THE CENTRE WAS WELL BELOW THE DAM OF
THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR, WASTE WATER DISCHARGED FROM THE CENTRE WOULD DEFINITELY NOT POLLUTE THE WATER IN THE RESERVOIR.
MR LIAO ALSO SPOKE OF THE URGENCY FOR CONSTRUCTING THE CENTRE. HE SAID THE HIGH ISLAND SITE WAS URGENTLY NEEDED AND THERE WAS NO VIABLE ALTERNATIVE AVAILABLE. WITH THE PRESENT RATE OF VBP ARRIVAL, FURTHER DELAYS IN CONSTRUCTING THE CENTRE WOULD PUT MOUNTING PRESSURE ON EXISTING CENTRES.
MR LIAO ASSURED THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING ITS BEST TO WORK OUT A SOLUTION TO THE VBP PROBLEM AND CALLED ON THEM TO SERIOUSLY RECONSIDER THEIR POSITION.
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