XN000022-1989-07-12 — Page 33

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1989

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REASSURANCES GIVEN ON SAI KUNG VBP CAMP

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, TODAY (WEDNESDAY} REITERATED ASSURANCES THAT THE TEMPORARY CAMP POR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN SAI KUNG WOULD NOT CAUSE POLLUTION TO THE AREA.

AVOID

"ADEQUATE MEASURES WILL BE IN PLACE TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, POLLUTION AND ENSURE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WILL NOT BE AFFECTED, HE SAID.

"THE CAMP IS IN A REMOTE LOCATION ON THE COFFER DAM WELL BELOW THE HIGH ISLAND WEST DAM AND WILL NOT IMPINGE ON THE AREAS WITHIN THE COUNTRY PARK.'

"

MR ASPREY HAS INFORMED THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN

IN A LETTER THIS WEEK THAT A DECISION HAS BEEN REACHED ΤΟ PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAMP.

"THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN NOTE OF THE OBJECTIONS AND POINTS MADE BY THE BOARD, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION

THE PRESERVATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THE EFFECT ON THE CHONG HING WATER SPORTS CENTRE, THE SAFETY OF THE LOCAL POPULATION AND THE SECURITY OF THE SAID.

"I CAN ASSURE THE DISTRICT BOARD THAT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SECURITY OF THE CAMP IS VERY MUCH IN OUR MINDS.

"

CAMP,

HE

PROTECTION

"THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN FORCED TO LOOK FOR A REMOTE SITE FOR MORE IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION TO COPE WITH THE CONTINUING LARGE INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE.

"SO FAR THIS YEAR WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN 25,000 NEW ARRIVALS; IN MAY AND JUNE ALONE, THERE WERE 9,194 AND 9,691 RESPECTIVELY.'

MR ASPREY STRESSED THAT NO REFUGEE VISITORS WOULD BE PERMITTED TO ENTER THE AREA OF THE WATER SPORTS CENTRE AND THE BOAT PEOPLE CAMP.

"WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE EFFECT OF THE CAMP ON THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND WE SHALL TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THERE 18 NO POLLUTION EITHER OF THE SEA OR OF THE LAGOON USED BY THE WATER SPORTS CENTRE, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC," HE SAID.

TO

SHOWERS AND

TO DEAL WITH WASTE WATER FROM KITCHENS, CLOTHES-WASHING AREAS IN THE CAMP, MR ASPREY SAID THERE WOULD BE A TREATMENT SYSTEM INVOLVING THE USE OF SETTLEMENT TANKS AND SAND FILTRATION.

"WE DO NOT INTEND то OPEN THE CAMP BEFORE THIS TREATMENT SYSTEM IS IN OPERATION," HE SAID.

"OTHER ANTI-POLLUTION MEASURES INCLUDE THE COLLECTION OF WASTE IN METAL TANKS AND EMPTYING THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR DELIVERY TO SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES OUTSIDE THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT."

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