XN000022-1991-06-05 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1991

GRADE DUE то

"LOSS OF MANPOWER IN THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER EMIGRATION, RETIREMENT AND NORMAL WASTAGE HAS BEEN MADE UP BY TRAINING LOCAL OFFICERS AND DIRECT APPOINTMENT OF EXPERIENCED CONTROLLERS FROM OVERSEAS, SHE SAID.

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"ALL THESE OFFICERS MEET THE STRINGENT STANDARDS SET BY THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANISATION (ICAO)."

IN TERMS OF FACILITIES, MRS BOSHER ADDED THAT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS WELL EQUIPPED WITH VISUAL AND ELECTRONIC AIDS AND FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF ICAO IN PROVIDING NAVIGATIONAL GUIDANCE TO AIRCRAFT APPROACHING TO AND DEPARTING FROM KAI TAK.

SHE ALSO SAID IN CASE OF ACCIDENTS ON OR IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT, THERE WERE WELL, LAID DOWN EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT, FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE AND OTHER RELEVANT AGENCIES.

SHE SAID SPECIALISED EQUIPMENT HAD BEEN ACQUIRED FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE, SALVAGE OF AIRCRAFT AND SO ON.

"ALL CONTINGENCY PLANS ARE KEPT FULLY UP-TO-DATE AND EXERCISES ARE CONDUCTED PERIODICALLY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A HIGH STATE OF READINESS TO REACT TO ANY SITUATION, SHE ADDED.

INTERCEPTION OPERATION OF VM'S EXPLAINED

THE FACT THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF VIETNAMESE BOATS ARE INTERCEPTED WELL BEFORE THEY REACH BUILT-UP AREAS IS A REFLECTION OF THE EFFICENCY OF HONG KONG'S MARINE POLICE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON IAN STRACHAN, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON POON CHI-FAI, MR STRACHAN SAID MOST VIETNAMESE BOATS WERE INTERCEPTED NEAR THE ЗВА BOUNDARY IN THE VICINITY OF TAI AH CHAU AND FAN LAU. SOME WERE INTERCEPTED AS NEAR AS CHBUNG CHAU.

"THE EXACT LOCATION DEPENDS ON THE ROUTE THEY TAKE,

HE SAID.

REFERRING TO AN INCIDENT ON MAY 15 WHEN A WOODEN MOTOR-VESSEL WITH MORE THAN 100 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS ON BOARD COULD ENTER INTO THE WATERS OF THE TERRITORY WITHOUT ANY INTERCEPTION BY THE MARINE POLICE UNTIL THEIR ARRIVAL WAS DISCOVERED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS, MR STRACHAN SAID THERE WERE TWO REASONS TO EXPLAIN WHY THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.

THE FIRST REASON, HE SAID, WAS THAT THE VESSEL ENTERED HONG KONG WATERS AT NIGHT, DURING A THUNDERSTORM AND IN POOR VISIBILITY.

/ALSO, THE