XN000022-1981-07-21 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1981

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS RESPONDING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE CORONER. HE POINTED OUT THAT MANY OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS REQUIRED ACTION BY THE GAS COMPANY, AND THE SUPPLIERS OF LPG AND THE IR AUTHORISED AGENTS AND DEALERS. THE CORONER HAD ALREADY CONVEYED HIS RIDERS IN WRITING TO THE GAS AND OIL COMPANIES CONCERNED.

ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE AT PRESENT, WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS, TO REQUIRE THE GAS AND LPG INDUSTRIES TO IMPLEMENT THE RIDERS, THE GOVERNMENT WAS ENLISTING THE IR VOLUNTARY COOPERATION AND PLANNED TO HOLD EARLY DISCUSSIONS WITH ALL INTERESTED PARTIES.

ACCOUNT HAD BEEN TAKEN OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH APPLIED TO PUBLICITY, AND THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT WAS PRODUCING A PRINTED LEAFLET DESIGNED TO MAKE CLEAR TO CHILDREN THE PRECAUTIONS THAT HAD TO BE TAKEN. THERE WERE PLANS TO PROMOTE GAS WATER HEATER SAFETY THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION AND FURTHER WIDESPREAD PUBLICITY WOULD BE UNDERTAKEN IN DUE COURSE, INCLUDING FURTHER ADVERTISEMENTS ON TELEVISION. IN DRAWING UP THESE PROGRAMMES, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD SEEK EXPERT ADVICE.

AMNESTY RUMOURS SP IKED

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A NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA WHO HAVE BEEN APPREHENDED RECENTLY ATTEMPTING TO ENTER HONG KONG ACROSS THE LAND BORDER OR BY BOAT, HAVE SAID THEY DECIDED TO SET OFF FROM THE IR VILLAGES AND COMMUNES AFTER HEARING RUMOURS ABOUT A POSSIBLE RELAXATION OF POLICIES BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

ONE RUMOUR CIRCULATING ALLEGED THAT THERE WOULD BE AN AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO MARK THE MARRIAGE OF PRINCE CHARLES. ANOTHER SUGGESTED THAT THERE WOULD BE AN ISSUE OF

IDENTITY CARDS ON THE SAME OCCASION. YET ANOTHER SUGGESTED THAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY IN HONG KONG WHEN THE GOVERNOR RETURNED FROM LONDON AFTER HIS SUCCESSFUL OPERATION.

COMMENTING ON THESE RUMOURS, THE SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION, MR ALAN SCOTT, SAID THAT AS HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY STATED, THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TOWARDS ILLEGAL

IMMIGRATION. IT IS A PITY THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE THESE RUMOURS AND IN SOME CASES, ARE PERSUADED TO PART WITH MONEY IN THE HOPE THAT THEY CAN ENTER HONG KONG ILLEGALLY. HE SAID.

+MANY OF THESE RUMOURS ARE STARTED DELIBERATELY BY AIDERS AND ABETTORS - THE SNAKEHEADS, WHO OF COURSE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN ENCOURAGING WOULD-BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO PAY UP.+

+! REPEAT YET AGAIN. ANY PERSON WHO IS FOUND TO HAVE ENTERED HONG KONG ILLEGALLY WILL BE RETURNED TO WHERE HE OR SHE CAME FROM, + MR SCOTT SAID.

AN IDENTITY CARD IS NECESSARY TO GET A JOB AND EMPLOYERS ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE PENALTIES UNDER THE LAW FOR EMPLOYING AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT, HE ADDED.

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