XN000022-1980-01-05 — Page 3

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1980

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DURING THE OCCUPATION PERIOD, MANY OF THEM WERE CONF INED IN THE PRISONER-OF-WAR CAMPS WHICH SO UNDERMINED THEIR HEALTH THAT MOST RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTRY AFTER THE WAR.

IN AUGUST 1947, A TOTAL OF 103 PRE-WAR INDIAN WARDERS WERE BROUGHT BACK TO HONG KONG FOR DUTY. HOWEVER ONLY 78 WERE FIT FOR SERVICE AND A YEAR LATER THE REST WERE RETIRED AND SENT HOME.

MANY OF THESE STAFF WERE DEVOUT MOSLEMS AND SO GOVERNMENT BUILT THEM A MOSQUE WITHIN STANLEY PRISON AREA, WHICH NOW STILL REMAINS AS A SPECIAL FEATURE MARKING THEIR MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE.

THE RETIREMENT OF MR. SAFDAR ENDS AN ERA OF JUNIOR PRISON OFFICERS EMPLOYED ON EXPATRIATE TERMS. BUT NEVERTHELESS MANY

INDIAN AND PAKISTANI STAFF, SOME OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN OF THOSE PRE-WAR STAFF, ARE STILL WITH THE PRISON SERVICE AND ARE EMPLOYED ON LOCAL TERMS AS THEY WERE BORN AND BROUGHT UP IN HONG KONG.

MORE LAND FOR PUBLIC HOUSING

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ANOTHER EIGHT HECTARES OF LAND WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING SHA TIN NEW TOWN.

TENDERS FOR THE SITE FORMATION WORK ARE BEING INVITED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

A PWD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THE LAND FORMED WILL ENABLE ACCOMMODATION TO BE PROVIDED FOR ABOUT 21 000 PEOPLE.

THE AREA IS NEXT TO THE VILLAGE OF SHA TIN TAU, NEAR THE LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD AND THE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE AT SAN TIN WAI.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ENGINEERING WORK WOULD INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF STORM DRAINS, SEWERS AND A MAIN DRAINAGE CULVERT.

WORK WILL START IN MARCH THIS YEAR AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

THE PROJECT HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY MAUNSELL CONSULTANTS ASIA, CONSULTING ENGINEERS TO THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

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