XN000022-1992-04-24 — Page 8

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1992

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APART FROM ITS NEW PREGNANT WOMEN'S SECTION, THE TRANSIT CENTRE WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED AS ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION FOR RETURNEES UNDER THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME WHO CANNOT BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE EXISTING LO WU OR SHEK KONG VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION CENTRES.

"WE ALSO INTEND TO USE THE CENTRE IN DUE COURSE TO ACCOMMODATE SMALL NUMBERS OF RETURNEES UNDER THE ORDERLY RETURN PROGRAMME PRIOR TO THEIR RETURN TO VIETNAM, MR LEEKS ADDED.

"I

"THE CLOSENESS OF THE CENTRE TO THE AIRPORT WILL HELP ENSURE THAT RETURNEES CAN BE TRANSFERRED ΤΟ THE AIRPORT DISRUPTION TO NORMAL AIRPORT ACTIVITIES," HE SAID.

WITH

MINIMUM

CS PRAISES WORK OF CAS

THE GOVERNMENT CAN DEPEND ON THE CIVIL AID SERVICES (CAS) ΤΟ RESPOND PROMPTLY AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY TO A WIDE RANGE OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS IN TIMES OF DISASTER, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

CAS

FORD,

THE

ADDRESSING THE CAS 40TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER, SIR DAVID SAID CONTINUED TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SUPPORT OF THE EMERGENCY

SERVICES.

HE SAID THE HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE INDEED FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH AN EFFICIENT AND DEDICATED SERVICE WORKING FOR THEM.

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF VIETNAMESE ASYLUM SEEKERS, SIR DAVID SAID HE WAS AWARE THAT THE CAS HAD BEEN EMPLOYED CONTINUOUSLY IN THIS DIFFICULT BUT NECESSARY TASK AT THE ARGYLE STREET AND KAI TAK CENTRES.

"THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO IS SURELY A TRIBUTE TO THE DETERMINATION AND DEVOTION OF ALL THOSE INVOLVED.

"WE FULLY APPRECIATE THE SUSTAINED EFFORT REQUIRED OF AN AUXILIARY SERVICE TO MANAGE TWO CENTRES, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, FOR THIS LENGTH OF TIME," HE SAID.

HE ALSO SAID THE CAS WOULD SHORTLY TAKE OVER THE RUNNING OF THE FORMER NEW HORIZON SCHOOL REFUGEE RECEPTION CENTRE WHEN THE ARGYLE STREET CAMP FINALLY CLOSED IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

CLEARLY ITS WORK IN THIS FIELD WAS NOT YET DONE, HOWEVER, SIR DAVID ASSURED THAT ITS EFFORTS WERE MUCH VALUED AND APPRECIATED.

SIR DAVID ALSO SAID IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT 80 MANY PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO CARRY ON THE FINE TRADITION OF VOLUNTARY SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE CAS.

/"ON BEHALF