XN000022-1979-06-15 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1979

EXPLAINING THE PURPOSE OF INTRODUCING THE NEW SECTION, THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT FOLLOWING THE SHARP INCREASE IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA, VOLUNTARY MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT TAKE PART IN PATROLS IN THE BORDER AREA AND ELSEWHERE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. HELICOPTERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE, CREWED BY VOLUNTARY MEMBERS, ARE ALSO USED FOR ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION DUTIES.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO NOTED THAT OCEAN-GOING VESSELS HAVE BEEN USED IN RECENT MONTHS TO CARRY REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM TO HONG KONG, AS WAS DEMONSTRATED BY THE ARRIVAL OF THE +HUEY FONG+ AND +SKYLUCK.+

+ IN EFFORTS TO DETECT THE ARRIVAL OF SIMILAR VESSELS THERE MAY BE OCCASIONS WHEY OFFICERS IN COMMAND OF HER MAJESTY'S WARSHIPS AND AUXILIARY SHIPS NEED TO BOARD, SEARCH, AND PERHAPS DETAIN OCEAN-COING VESSELS IN HONG KONG WATERS,+ HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE EXISTING LEGISLATION PROVIDES THESE POWERS BUT RESTRICTS THE IR APPLICATION TO VESSELS NOT EXCEEDING 503 GROSS TONS AND STIPULATES THAT THE POWERS MAY BE EXERCISED ONLY BY OFFICERS IN COMMAND OF HER MAJESTY'S WARSHIPS.

THE AMENDING LEGISLATION PROPOSES TO REMOVE THE TONNAGE RESTRICTION AND TO EXTEND THESE POWERS TO OFFICERS IN COMMAND OF AUXILIARY NAVAL CRAFT, WHICH ARE NOW BEING USED TO PATROL HONG KONG WATERS, HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WOULD ALSO HAVE THE EFFECT OF ENABLING SENIOR IMMIGRATION ASSISTANTS, A NEW RANK OF OFFICERS CREATED IN THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON AUGUST 16 LAST YEAR, TO EXERCISE THE SAME POWERS AND PERFORM THE SAME FUNCTIONS AS IMMIGRATION ASSISTANTS.

ACTING GOVERNOR PAYS TRIBUTE TO CAS

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THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR JACK CATER, THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING PRAISED THE CIVIL AID SERVICES FOR THEIR QUIET, UNASSUMING, BUT VERY EFFICIENT MANNER IN WHICH THEY HAVE SERVED THE COMMUNITY.

SIR JACK ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE C.A.S. FOR HELPING TO MANAGE FOUR VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CAMPS AND HELPING TO DELIVER FOOD TO THE REFUGEES ON THE FREIGHTER +SKYLUCK+ AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS ON SMALL CRAFT IN DISCOVERY BAY.

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL C.A.S. COMBINED OFFICERS AND MEMBER$ DINNER, SIR JACK SAID HE HAD, FOR MANY YEARS, ADMIRED THE WORK AND THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE C.A.S.

CITING AN EXAMPLE OF C.A.S.'S NORMAL+ DUTIES, THE ACTING GOVERNOR SAID: I WAS ESPECIALLY IMPRESSED TO HEAR OF THE DEVOTION TO DUTY THE OTHER DAY OF YOUR MOUNTAIN RESCUE UNIT. AFTER A GRUELLING 10 HOURS SUPPLYING FOOD TO SOME 9,000 REFUGEES IN 93 SMALL CRAFT OUT AT SEA, THEY RETURNED AT 5.30 A.M., REPEAT 5.30 A.M. TO FACE AN IMMEDIATE CALL-OUT FOR AN ARDUOUS MOUNTAIN RESCUE ON THE CLIFF FACE OF LION ROCK.