XN000022-1985-10-14 — Page 2

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1985

GOVERNMENT SERIOUSLY CONCERNED OVER ATTACK

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SIR EDWARD

THE GOVERNMENT IS +VERY SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT ATTACK ON A MEMBER OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SHAW BUILDINGS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, SIR EDWARD SAID HE HAD HAD A PERSONAL REPORT FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE ABOUT THE INCIDENT TODAY. AND THAT HE HAD DISCUSSED IT WITH BOTH THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION,

+THE POLICE HAD AN IMMEDIATE AND THOROUGH INQUIRY, INVESTIGATION INTO IT IS IN PROCESS NOW.

+BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT, AND YOU MAY BE ASSURED THAT THE INVESTIGATION WILL BE A VERY THOROUGH ONE,+ HE SAID.

ASKED FOR THE REASON BEHIND THE ATTACK, SIR EDWARD SAID HE MUST LEAVE THAT TO THE POLICE INVESTIGATION AT THIS STAGE BEFORE COMING TO ANY CONCLUSIONS.

ON WHETHER PEOPLE HAD OVER-REACTED TO THE INCIDENT, HE SAID HE COULD UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS CONCERN OVER SUCH AN INCIDENT.

+AS YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS HAVE EXPRESSED VIEWS ON IT.

+AND TOMORROW AFTERNOON I SHALL SEE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD WHO HAS ASKED TO COME TO REPRESENT TO ME THE VIEWS AND FEELINGS ON IT,+ HE SAID.

ASKED WHETHER DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD BE GIVEN PROTECTION, SIR EDWARD SAID HE HOPED HE WOULD GET SOME REACTIONS ON WHAT THE VIEWS OF DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WERE ON THE INCIDENT TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

+ IT IS OF COURSE THE CASE THAT IF ANYBODY IS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS SECURITY OR SAFETY, HE SHOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH THE POLICE WHO ARE WELL EXPERIENCED IN DEALING WITH THESE MATTERS, HE ADDED.

ON THE FORMAT OF THE NEW PASSPORT. SIR EDWARD SAID IT WOULD NOT BE TOO LONG BEFORE THERE WOULD BE AN ANSWER TO THAT.

AS FOR THE ORDER IN COUNCIL, HIS ANSWER WAS +AGAIN, NOT TOO LONG+.

AND IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON WHETHER HE HAS A +FIXED DATE+ FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, HE SAID, I HAVE A DATE BUT I HAVEN'T QUITE FIXED IT.+

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