XN000022-1993-01-01 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 1993

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GOVERNOR OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO FAMILIES OF LAN KWAI FONG VICTIMS

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GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN OFFERED CONDOLENCES TO

THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF ALL THE VICTIMS OF THE INCIDENT AT LAN KWAI FONG, CENTRAL EARLY THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING THE INJURED AT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL, THE GOVERNOR THANKED THE POLICE FOR COPING VERY SWIFTLY WITH THE DISASTER AND THE EMERGENCY AND MEDICAL STAFF WHO HAD ALSO BEEN WORKING HARD.

"THERE WILL BE OBVIOUSLY MANY OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS FOR THINKING ABOUT THE REASONS FOR THE DISASTER, HE SAID.

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THE MOMENT ALL I'D LIKE TO DO IS TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES AND TO THANK THE MEDICAL STAFF AND THE EMERGENCY SERVICES WHO COPED SO WELL WITH THE DISASTER.'

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AFTER VISITING THE VICTIMS AT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL AND TANG SHIU KIN HOSPITAL, THE GOVERNOR ALSO WENT TO LAN KWAI FONG TO ENQUIRE ABOUT THE SITUATION.

INQUIRY ON LAN KWAI FONG TRAGEDY

"EVERYONE IN HONG KONG WILL JOIN ME IN EXTENDING OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THE RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THOSE WHO DIED OR WERE INJURED IN THE TRAGEDY EARLIER TODAY, THE GOVERNOR THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN SAID THIS MORNING.

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THE QUEEN

MR PATTEN AND HIS WIFE VISITED POLICE HEADQUARTERS, MARY HOSPITAL, THE TANG SHIU KIN HOSPITAL, AND THE SCENE OF THE DISASTER DURING THE NIGHT. MR PATTEN EXPRESSED THE COMMUNITY'S GRATITUDE TO THE POLICE, MEDICAL AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.

THIS MORNING THE GOVERNOR MET THE CHIEF SECRETARY, ATTORNEY GENERAL. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY AND COMMISSIONER OF POLICE. THE POLICE HAVE PUT IN HAND AN INVESTIGATION TO SEE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, WHAT IMMEDIATE LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED FROM THIS TRAGEDY ABOUT CROWD CONTROL. THE POLICE WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE LATER TODAY.

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THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WILL BE AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY CONDUCTED BY MR JUSTICE BOKHARY. THE TERMS OF REFERENCE BE ANNOUNCED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE INTENTION 18 THAT THE INQUIRY SHOULD BEGIN STRAIGHTAWAY WITH THE AIM OF PRODUCING SOME INTERIM CONCLUSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE THE CHINESE NEW YRAR CELEBRATIONS. RESULTS OF THE INQUIRY WILL, OF COURSE, BE MADE PUBLIC.

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS ARRANGED TO OFFER ASSISTANCE AND COUNSELLING TO THE BEREAVED, AND OFFERED A TELEPHONE HOTLINE THIS PURPOSE.

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