XN000022-1989-06-13 — Page 9

TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1989

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PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPING WITH VBP: SIR DAVID

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO GO ON MAKING PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS RECEIVE THE CONTINUOUS INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID AFTER VISITING THE SEK KONG CAMP TODAY (TUESDAY).

SIR DAVID WAS THERE TO SEE PROGRESS OF WORK IN ON THE RUNWAY TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION ARRIVALS.

ERECTING TENTS FOR VIETNAMESE

IN SEK

SIR DAVID SAID IT WAS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT LOCAL PEOPLE KONG WOULD FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF VIETNAMESE IN THEIR AREA. HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE VBP CAMP WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ARMY CAMP AND THERE WERE TWO BARBED-WIRE FENCES BETWEEN THE CAMP AND THE LOCAL POPULATION.

申

"IT IS BEING GUARDED BY THE POLICE FORCE, HE ADDED.

SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD BIG PROBLEMS ON THE SOKO ISLANDS WHEN TRYING TO MOVE PEOPLE OUT IN THE EVENT OF THE APPROACH OF A TYPHOON.

"AND IT CAUSES AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF TROUBLE FOR OUR SECURITY FORCES TO MOVE PEOPLE OFF THE REMOTE ISLANDS. WE HAVE GOT TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHICH WILL PROVIDE A DEGREE OF CONTINUITY AND SECURITY FOR THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. HE SAID.

ASKED ABOUT THE DATE WHEN THE CAMP COULD BE USED. SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS PLANNING TO USE THIS CAMP SOMETIME TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEK IF THE FLOW OF VBP CONTINUED AT THE PRESENT RATE AND THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUED TO BE UNDER GREAT PRESSURE.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS NO FIRM DATE YET.

COMMENTING ON REPORTS THAT VILLAGERS MIGHT TAKE ACTION TO THE GOVERNMENT MOVING VBP INTO THE CAMP, SIR DAVID SAID HE HOPED HEADS WOULD PREVAIL IN THIS SITUATION.

STOP COOL

"IT WOULD NOT DO ANYBODY GOOD IN THE COMMUNITY TO RESORT TO ANY SORT OF DRASTIC ACTION.

"AND OF COURSE. THE POLICE WILL BE GUARDING THIS CAMP AND WILL BE LOOKING AFTER SECURITY GENERALLY. SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY HAS ANYTHING TO FEAR AT ALL FROM THE PRESENCE OF PEOPLE HERE, HE SAID.

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BOAT

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SIR DAVID PAID TRIBUTE TO THE ARMY FOR THE TREMENDOUS THEY HAD DONE. "IT IS A GREAT EFFORT AND I AM VERY FOR ALL THEY HAVE DONE, SIR DAVID REMARKED.

JOB

GRATEFUL то

THEM

/SIR DAVID