XN000022-1990-03-25 — Page 9

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1990

AT

"TWICE A WEEK WE ARRANGE TRANSPORT FOR COUPLES TO REGISTER THE YUEN LONG MARRIAGE REGISTRY. AND EVERY WEDNESDAY, WE FERRY AN AVERAGE ABOUT 30 PREGNANT WOMEN TO YAN ΟΙ POLYCLINIC FOR MATERNITY CHECKUPS, MR MAK EXPLAINED.

ALSO SINCE JANUARY, STAFF HAVE ARRANGED HOSPITAL VISITS THREE TIMES A WEEK FOR INMATES TO VISIT THEIR SICK FAMILY MEMBERS, RELATIVES OR FRIENDS BEING TREATED IN PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL IN KWAI CHUNG, RUTTONJEE SANATORIUM IN WAN CHAI

AND GRANTHAM HOSPITAL IN ABERDEEN.

RANGE OF OTHER

"THESE EXTRA ESCORT DUTIES, PLUS A WIDE NON-POLICE COMMITMENTS, ARE QUITE TIME-CONSUMING, BUT WE TRY ΤΟ ACCOMMODATE THEM AS FAR AS WE CAN, MR MAK SAID.

"

CAMP POLICEMEN HAVE ALSO BEEN

POSTMEN AND "HEAD HUNTERS".

PLAYING OTHER ROLES, SUCH AS

"THE MAIL SERVICE PROVIDED IN THE CAMP MEANS THAT WE HAVE ΤΟ PROCESS AND SORT THOUSANDS OF INCOMING AND OUTGOING LETTERS EACH MONTH. IT IS A FIVE-DAY-A-WEEK ROUTINE FOR US NOW," MR MAK WENT ON.

"IN FEBRUARY, THE CAMP STAFF HANDLED 7,900 OUTGOING AND 4,850 INCOMING LETTERS SLIGHTLY DOWN OVERALL ON THE PREVIOUS MONTHS TOTALS OF 8,520 AND 5,040 RESPECTIVELY."

-

EVEN WITH THE HELP OF VIETNAMESE VOLUNTEERS, A HANDFUL OF POLICEMEN STILL HAVE TO BE DEPLOYED TO LOOK AFTER THE SORTING OUT PROCESS TO ENSURE ALL INCOMING LETTERS REACH THE HANDS OF THE ADDRESSEES.

IS

"EVERY ADDRESSEE HAS TO BE IDENTIFIED AND AN APPOINTMENT MADE FOR HE OR SHE TO COME AND COLLECT THE MAIL FROM US," MR MAK POINTED OUT.

"WE SIMPLY CAN'T LEAVE IT TO THE VIETNAMESE VOLUNTEERS AS IT MIGHT ALLOW ROOM FOR MAIL RIGGING OR POSSIBLE THEFTS. WE HAVE то BE ABSOLUTELY SURE,

"AT THE REQUEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS, WE ALSO PLAY *HEAD HUNTERS' SEEKING OUT THOSE NAMED BY OTHER VIETNAMESE, LOCALLY OR OVERSEAS, WHO BELIEVE EITHER A RELATIVE OR FRIEND IS BEING KEPT HERE, MR MAK SAID.

■

"IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THE TIME NEEDED TO TRACE THEM FROM AMONG MORE THAN 7,000 PEOPLE ACCOMMODATED HERE, MR MAK REMARKED.

STAFF IDENTIFIED 60 "LOST" VIETNAMESE IN JANUARY AND 40 IN

FEBRUARY.

ON TOP OF ALL THIS, THE MANAGEMENT HAS TO SPEND A SIZEABLE PORTION OF ITS MANPOWER AND TIME ARRANGING THE TRANSFER OF INMATES TO OTHER DETENTION CENTRES EITHER FOR VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION OR FOR SUCH REASONS AS REUNION WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AT OTHER CAMPS.

/STATISTICS MAINTAINED