XN000022-1992-02-04 — Page 2

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1992

GOVERNOR EXPRESSES SYMPATHY TO FAMILIES IN SHEK KONG INCIDENT

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, THIS (TUESDAY) MORNING EXPRESSED HIS VERY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILIES OF ALL THOSE WHO DIED IN THE TRAGIC INCIDENT AT THE SHEK KONG DETENTION CENTRE FOR VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS.

SAYING THAT IT WAS AN INCIDENT OF REALLY SENSELESS VIOLENCE, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "THIS IS A REAL TRAGEDY WHICH ALL OF US ARE DEEPLY DISTRESSED TO SEE AND DEEPLY DISTRESSED BOTH FOR THE APPALLING LOSS OF LIFE AND FOR THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE INCIDENT,'

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING SHEK KONG CENTRE, SIR DAVID SAID HE WOULD NOT LIKE TO ATTRIBUTE BLAME IN THE INCIDENT.

"PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND THAT MEANS THAT THERE HAS TO BE A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF WHY IT HAPPENED, WHY THAT HUT WAS BURNED," HE ADDED.

VERY

THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE IN ALL THE OTHER VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE DETENTION CAMPS KNOW THE PRECISE FACTS OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE SEK KONG CAMP, AND NOT JUST RELY ON RUMOURS.

WHY

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION, SIR DAVID SAID THERE WAS NO REASON INCIDENT SHOULD BE A SETBACK TO THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE.

THE

"THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION SCHEME STANDS ON ITS OWN MERITS; IT MAKES ABSOLUTE SENSE FOR PEOPLE TO GO BACK TO THEIR HOMES IN VIETNAM AND I HOPE THAT SCHEME WILL GO ON, INDEED I HOPE THAT IT WILL EXPAND, HE SAID.

ASKED WHAT ACTION WAS BEING TAKEN TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION IN THE CAMP, SIR DAVID SAID: "WE ARE SEPARATING THE TWO GROUPS: THERE HAVE BEEN GROUPS OF NORTHERNERS AND SOUTHERNERS WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING; THAT APPEARS TO BE AT THE ROOT OF THE WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT.

"THOSE TWO GROUPS WILL BE SEPARATED, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE MOVED OUT OF THIS CAMP; WE HAVE A MINORITY IN THIS CAMP OF NORTHERNERS AND WE'LL BE MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEM TO MOVED OUT OF THIS CAMP, HE SAID.

++

THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR LI KWAN-HA, WHO ACCOMPANIED THE GOVERNOR THIS MORNING SAID TOTAL ORDER HAD BEEN RESTORED TO THE DETENTION CENTRE FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AND THAT INVESTIGATION WAS IN PROGRESS.

"THE REGIONAL CRIME UNIT IS HANDLING THE CRIME INVESTIGATION SIDE OF IT, ASSISTED BY THE GOVERNMENT CHEMIST IN GETTING THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE. THE FIRE SERVICES IS ALSO IN ATTENDANCE TO HELP AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION, HE ADDED.

12