XN000022-1984-08-10 — Page 4

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1984

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+OSPREY+ ENQUIRY REPORT STUDIED

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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD RECEIVED AN ADVANCE COPY OF THE REPORT BY THE MARINE COURT OF ENQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE OSPREY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED TODAY.

HE SAID THAT THE REPORT WAS ALREADY BEING STUDIED BY THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS.

WHILE EXPLAINING THAT IT WAS TOO EARLY TO SAY WHAT ACTION THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE IN RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY HAD ALREADY SET UP A WORK ING GROUP TO REVIEW EXISTING OFFSHORE SEARCH AND RESCUE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, THE GROUP COMPRISED REPRESENTATIVES OF SECURITY BRANCH, ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH, CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT AND MARINE DEPARTMENT, AND WOULD CO-OPT REPRESENTATIVES FROM OTHER ORGANISATIONS AND SERVICES SUCH AS THE RAF, ROYAL NAVY, ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE, AND MARINE POLICE - TO ATTEND AS NECESSARY. AT AN EARLY STAGE IN ITS WORK THE GROUP WOULD BE CONSIDERING THE COURT'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GOVERNMENT'S EXISTING SEARCH AND RESCUE ORGANISATION VERY CAREFULLY.

ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE COURT REGARDING IMPROVEMENTS TO REGISTRATION, LICENSING, AND EQUIPPING OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF VESSELS IN HONG KONG WATERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THESE MATTERS WERE NOW BEING CONSIDERED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE.

MINISTER TO SEE WORK FOR DISABLED HERE

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THE UK MINISTER FOR THE DISABLED, MR ANTONY NEWTON WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG ON SUNDAY (AUGUST 12) FOR A 15-DAY VISIT.

DURING THE FIRST WEEK HE WILL SEE A CROSS-SECTION OF HONG KONG'S REHABILITATION SERVICES UNDER A PROGRAMME ORGANISED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

MR NEWTON WILL ALSO ATTEND A MEETING OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE AND MEET HONG KONG'S DISABLED ATHLETES AT A DINNER TO BE HOSTED BY DR HARRY FANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE.

THE MINISTER WILL BE BRIEFED BY SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND WILL MEET UMELCO AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD DURING A VISIT TO EASTERN DISTRICT ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

HE WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON AUGUST 17 AND LEAVE HONG KONG ON AUGUST 26.

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