XN000022-1991-12-18 — Page 32

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1991

30

GOVT STATEMENT ON NIM WAN INCIDENT

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES WITH REGARD TO AN INCIDENT WHICH TOOK PLACE IN HONG KONG WATERS ON NOVEMBER 19, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

THROUGH THE

NIM

"CHINA HAS RESPONDED OFFICIALLY, ON DECEMBER 16 NCNA, TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE

WAN INCIDENT. THERE REMAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES' UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAPPENED. THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM HAD BEEN STATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY ON DECEMBER 4. THAT REMAINS OUR POSITION.

"THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT BOTH SIDES SHOULD FURTHER DEVELOP THEIR CO-OPERATION AGAINST SMUGGLING AND TAKE MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT DANGEROUS INCIDENTS DO NOT OCCUR. WE ARE GLAD THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WISH TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CO-OPERATION WITH US.'

0

NEW TSUEN WAN POLICE DISTRICT HQS AND STATION OPENS

THE OPENING OF THE NEW TSUEN WAN POLICE DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS AND DIVISIONAL STATION IS PART OF THE EXPANSION OF THE POLICE PLANNED FOR LANTAU.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE POLICE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER (OPERATIONS), MR JOHN SHEPPARD, WHEN HE OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW COMPLEX TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE SAID THE DEVELOPMENTS ON LANTAU, AND THE INTEGRATED TRANSPORT SYSTEMS WHICH LINK WITH THE REST OF HONG KONG, AND INDEED CHINA, WILL PLACE TSUEN WAN MORE THAN EVER BEFORE AT THE HUB OF NEW TERRITORIES LIFE.

"THIS IN TURN WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN IMPORTANCE AND 19 EXPECTED TO ATTRACT FURTHER INDUSTRY, HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO YOUR DISTRICT.

THIS

"I AM ESPECIALLY PLEASED THEREFORE WITH THE TIMELY OPENING OF NEW STATION, WHICH IS WELL-EQUIPPED TO MEET THESE NEW CHALLENGES, MR SHEPPARD SAID.

11

FROM

MR SHEPPARD ALSO TOLD THE LARGE GATHERING WHO MAINLY CAME THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT THAT THE OLD TSUEN WAN POLICE STATION WOULD NOT BE DEMOLISHED.

"IT HAS ALREADY BEEN TAKEN INTO SERVICE IN ITS NEW ROLE AS AN OPERATIONAL BASE FOR THE SOUTHERN NEW TERRITORIES; IT HOUSES THE NEW TERRITORIES EMERGENCY UNIT, AND A COMPANY OF THE POLICE TACTICAL UNIT- -THE BLUE BERETS.

/"SO YOU