XN000022-1986-12-27 — Page 2

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1986

IMPROVEMENT IN ABERDEEN HAR BOUR EXPECTED SIR DAVID

THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THE SITUATION IN ABERDEEN HARBOUR SHOULD IMPROVE WHEN ALL THE DWELLING BOATS ARE CLEARED WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO AND THE OCCUPANTS RESETTLED ASHORE.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER CRUISING THE SCENE OF THE NO. 4 ALARM FIRE, SIR DAVID SAID THE ABERDEEN HARBOUR SHOULD LARGELY DE LEFT TO MARINE CRAFT AND SEA-GOING BOATS WHEN THE DWELLING BOATS WERE CLEARED.

+SO IN THAT SENSE THE SITUATION WILL BE BETTER,+

SIR DAVID NOTED THAT THE FIRE SERVICES AND THE POLICE HAD MADE A VERY PROMPT RESPONSE AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF FIRE, AND THE 30CIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAD TAKEN PROMPT FOLLOW-UP ACTION:

+30 THERE'RE ONLY A FEW PEOPLE NOW WHO ARE STILL LIVING IN A TEMPORARY SHELTER, HE SAID.

SIR DAVID SAID THERE WAS ALREADY A LOT OF LIAISON BETWEEN THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE BOAT DWELLERS, AND FIRE WATCH TEAMS HAD BEEN FORMED.

BUT HE STRESSED THAT THE ULTIMATE THING WAS FOR THE PEOPLE TO TAKE FIRE PRECAUTIONS AND PREVENT ACCIDENTS FROM HAPPENING.

+WE MUST REMEMBER THAT ALL OUR TYPHOON SHELTERS ARE VERY CROWDED PLACES, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING ON THESE BOATS -- FISHING BOATS OR DWELLING BOATS — TO TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION THEY CAN TO PREVENT THE OUTBREAK OF FIRE, BECAUSE ONCE YOU HAVE A FIRE, THEN YOU HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION TO CONTROL, HE SAID.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE BOAT DWELLERS, SIR DAVID SAID THERE WAS A GRADUAL PLAN TO REHOUSE AS MANY OF OUR SQUATTERS AND BOAT PEOPLE AS WE COULD IN DUE COURSE, BUT WE HAD TO GET OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT..

SIR DAVID WAS ACCOMPANIED BY OFFICIALS OF THE FIRE SERVICES AND CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION DURING THE CRUISE.

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