FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1989
HK-CHINA RELATIONSHIPS SHOULD BE TACKLED
IN A PRACTICAL, PRAGMATIC MANNER: CS
* *
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE WHOLE QUESTION OF HONG KONG'S RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHINA BE TACKLED IN A VERY PRACTICAL AND PRAGMATIC WAY. THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY I
(FRIDAY),
CEREMONY SERVICE,
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SIR DAVID SAID: "WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT OVER THE PERIOD OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS.'
"WE CERTAINLY HAVE NO WISH TO INVOLVE IN MEGAPHONE DIPLOMACY ON OUR SIDE.
"WE HAVE A LOT OF PRACTICAL ISSUES ON WHICH WE DISCUSS REGULARLY WITH THE CHINESE, AND I THINK IT'S THAT EMPHASIS THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO MAKE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. HE SAID.
"I
"
AM SURE AS THINGS SETTLE DOWN WE WILL RETURN TO THE FORMER SETTLED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES, SIR DAVID ADDED.
г
ASKED TO COMMENT ON ALLEGATIONS OF UNDUE FORCE USED IN MOVING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE FROM THE CHI MA WAN DETENTION CENTRE ΤΟ PHOENIX HOUSE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID IT WAS AN OPERATIONAL MOVE WHICH WENT SMOOTHLY.
"THERE WERE SOME SCUFFLES INVOLVED, BUT WE RECEIVED NO COMPLAINTS FROM THE BOAT PEOPLE CONCERNED IN THAT MOVE, HE SAID.
F
SIR DAVID SAID THAT AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAD ASKED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE CASE AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CLEARLY BE QUITE PREPARED TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION REQUIRED OF IT, NOTING THAT THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY WOULD BE DOING JUST THAT,
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT IN CASES WHERE THERE MIGHT BE THE DANGER OF PROBLEMS THE PRESENCE OF POLICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS WAS NECESSARY.
AND THERE WERE ON THAT OCCASION POLICEMEN AND INDEED CORRECTIONAL SERVICES HELD IN RESERVES IN CASE THEY WERE NEEDED, SIR DAVID SAID.
CS PRAISES COUNCIL'S ROLE IN SOCIAL SERVICE
* *
INVALUABLE
00- THE
THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDES AN FORUM WITHIN WHICH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES CAN COME TOGETHER IN OPERATION AND TO FURTHER THE PROMOTION OF OUR WELFARE PROGRAMMES, CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE COUNCIL'S EMPLOYMENT SERVICE 30TH ANNIVERSARY, SIR DAVID SAID THAT THROUGH THE COUNCIL THERE WAS A VERY USEFUL CHANNEL FOR THE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS BETWEEN
GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.
THE
"OVER THE