XN000022-1984-02-15 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1984

9

NO

ACCIDENT VICTIM FAMILIES GET FINANCIAL AID

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THE 13 FAMILIES OF THOSE KILLED OR INJURED IN THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN HAPPY VALLEY ON JANUARY 28 ARE ALL AWARE OF THE HELP THEY CAN GET FROM THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT_VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, SAID TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PAULINE NG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ABOUT ASSISTANCE OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO THE FAMILIES.

MR CHING SAID SO FAR A TOTAL OF $102 700 HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO 11 OF THE FAMILIES, AND TWO FAMILIES HAD NOT SOUGHT HELP UNDER THE SCHEME,

+ADDITIONALLY, THE FAMILIES HAVE ALL BE ASKED IF THEY NEED ANY OTHER HELP, AND AS A RESULT ONE FAMILY HAS BEEN OFFERED CHILD CARE SERVICES WHILE ANOTHER IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, HE SAID,

FRUSTRATION WILL GROW IN VR CAMPS

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FRUSTRATION WILL GROW AS VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ARE DETAINED FOR LONG PERIODS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LYDIA DUNN WHO ASKED FOR A STATEMENT ON TWO RECENT INCIDENTS IN CAMPS AT HEI LING CHAU AND CHI MA WAN AND WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT ACTION HAD BEEN TAKEN IN RESPECT OF TROUBLE MAKERS.

+THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM IS TO PRESERVE LAW AND ORDER IN ALL REFUGEE CENTRES AND TO DEAL FIRMLY WITH ANY DISTURBANCES,+ SAID MR JEAFFRESON, +BUT WE MUST APPRECIATE THAT WHEN REFUGEES ARE DETAINED HERE FOR LONG PERIODS FRUSTRATION WILL GROW.+

DESCRIBING THE INCIDENT AT HEI LING CHAU CENTRE FOR SINGLE MALE REFUGEES, HE SAID THAT TROUBLE BEGAN AT MIDDAY ON FEBRUARY 2 WHEN A FIGHT INVOLVING THREE REFUGEES DEVELOPED INTO A GANG FIGHT INVOLVING OVER 100 NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN REFUGEES.

CORRECTIONAL SERVICES STAFF QUICKLY BROUGHT THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL.

HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF THIS DISTURBANCE AND A NUMBER OF OTHER INCIDENTS INVOLVING NORTH-SOUTH CONFLICT, IT WAS DECIDED TO SEPARATE THE TWO GROUPS IN TWO CENTRES, HE SAID.