XN000022-1982-05-11 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1982

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NEW TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER NAMED

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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT MR PETER LEEDS WOULD SUCCEED MR ALAN ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT AS COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT ON THE LATTER'S RETIREMENT ON JUNE 7.

MR LEEDS IS AGED 51 AND IS AT PRESENT THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT. HE HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE TRANSPORT FIELD IN WHICH HE HAS SPENT VIRTUALLY HALF OF HIS 30 YEARS' SERVICE WITH THE GOVERNMENT. HE WAS PROMOTED TO DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT IN MARCH 1979 AND HAS ACTED AS COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

MR ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT IS RETIRING AFTER 29 YEARS' SERVICE. HE JOINED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AS AN ENGINEER IN DECEMBER 1953 AND TRANSFERRED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE IN APRIL 1974. HE WAS APPOINTED COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT IN OCTOBER 1978.

MR LEEDS WILL BE REPLACED AS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT BY MR JAMES SO YIU-CHO, AN ADMINSTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE B. MR SO, WHO IS 42, JOINED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN SEPTEMBER 1962. HIS MOST RECENT APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN AS PRIVATE SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO PUT IN HAND PLANNING WITH A VIEW TO DETERMINING WHETHER CLOSED CAMPS FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IS A PRACTICAL PROPOSITION.

THE STUDY WILL NEED TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBLE SITES FOR SUCH CAMPS ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE IR MANAGEMENT AND STAFFING AND THE STANDARDS AND SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED WITHIN THEM. IT WILL ALSO NEED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF SECURITY REQUIREMENTS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THE WORK INVOLVED WOULD TAKE ABOUT A MONTH AND WOULD IDENTIFY ANY PARTICULAR PROBLEMS AND ANY PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN IMPLEMENTING SUCH A POLICY IN FUTURE.