XN000022-1988-11-15 — Page 6

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1988

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"IT WILL ALSO FREE VALUABLE SPACE IN THE EXISTING BLOCKS FOR WARD EXPANSION AND USE BY OTHER SUPPORTING MEDICAL SERVICES,' SIR DAVID ADDED.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE CEREMONY ABOUT PROBLEMS FACED BY NURSING STAFF, SIR DAVID SAID HE WAS PLEASED TO HEAR THAT THERE WOULD BE A MEETING ON FRIDAY BETWEEN THE NURSES' REPRESENTATIVES AND THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH TO DISCUSS THE MATTER.

HE SAID THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS WAS TO TALK ABOUT THEM AND TO TRY TO FIND A COMMON SOLUTION: "I HOPE THAT WILL BE ONE STEP ALONG THE ROAD.

"WE DO RECOGNISE THAT THE NURSES HAVE A PROBLEM. WE ARE ANXIOUS

TO COME UP TO TRY TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY AND TO TRY

WITH LONG TERM SOLUTION," SIR DAVID ADDED.

A

WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE TO COME INTO OPERATION SOON

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THE NEW DETENTION CENTRE FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AT WHITEHEAD, WUI KAI SHA, WILL SOON COME ON STREAM AND BR OPERATED BY CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF.

THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MRS CARRIE YAU, SAID THIS TODAY (TUESDAY) AT A MEETING OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD WHEN SHE BRIEFED MEMBERS ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT.

IN AUGUST, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED FUNDS COVERING TWO STAGES OF THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE.

OF

"AT PRESENT, ONE STAGE IS BEING BUILT WITH A TOTAL CAPACITY 4,000, AND FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS THE NEED TO BUILD STAGE II TOMORROW, MRS YAU TOLD THE MEETING.

H

"SITE FORMATION HAS ALREADY STARTED AND CONSTRUCTION BUILDINGS TO HOUSE CAMP STAFF AND BOAT PEOPLE WILL SOON BEGIN.

OF THE

"IT IS EXPECTED THAT 2,000 PLACES WILL BE PROVIDED IN DECEMBER AND ANOTHER 2,000 IN LATE FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR WHEN STAGE I COMPLETED."

LATE IS

MRS YAU ASSURED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS THAT HIGH SECURITY MEASURES WOULD BE PROVIDED AT THE NEW DETENTION CENTRE.

"THERE WILL BE A DOUBLE 17-FOOT HIGH FENCE ROUND THE CAMP, AND VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WILL BE KEPT IN SEPARATE COMPOUNDS OF 2,000 EACH FOR MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY PURPOSES, SHE SAID.

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