XN000022-1993-03-16 — Page 21

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TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1993

RDCC MEMBERS ALSO ENDORSED THE NEED FOR THE PUBLICATION WHITE PAPER ON REHABILITATION BY THE END OF 1993.

OF A

"THE DOCUMENT CONSISTS OF A LOT OF CONCEPTS ON REHABILITATION AND IS A GUIDE FOR THE FULL 10 YEARS IN THE FIELD," HE SAID.

DR WU ADDED THAT THE GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION WAS ONLY A CONSULTATIVE PAPER WHILE THE WHITE PAPER SET OUT THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITTED POLICY ON REHABILITATION.

MEMBERS ALSO DECIDED TO DROP THE IDEA OF THE BOUGHT-PLACE SCHEME FOR THE SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS IN NEED OF HOSTEL/CARE AND ATTENTION SERVICE.

"OPERATORS OF SUCH HOSTELS WOULD UNLIKELY BE INTERESTED TO IMPROVE THEIR HOMES' STANDARDS JUST TO TAKE IN A FEW SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS WHO WOULD EVENTUALLY MOVE TO SUBVENTED HOSTELS IN A FEW YEARS' TIME WHEN THE SHORTFALLS WILL GRADUALLY BE MET, DR SAID.

WU

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SYMPATHY TO FAMILIES OF SEA VICTIMS

THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR TONY MILLER, TODAY (TUESDAY) EXPRESSED HIS SYMPATHY FOR THE FAMILIES OF 29 HONG KONG MERCHANT NAVY OFFICERS AND SEAMEN SERVING ON BOARD THE LIBERIAN REGISTERED BULK CARRIER "GOLD BOND CONVEYOR"

•

THE SHIP WITH A GROSS REGISTERED TONNAGE OF 14,941 SANK ABOUT 110 MILES SOUTH OF CAPE SABLE, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA IN STORMY WEATHER SHORTLY AFTER MID-NIGHT YESTERDAY (MONDAY).

SHE HAD A CREW OF 33 AND 32 OF THEM ARE STILL UNACCOUNTED

A BODY WAS RECOVERED FROM THE SCENE.

FOR.

MR MILLER SAID: "I SHOULD LIKE TO ASSURE THE FAMILIES DURING THEIR ANXIOUS WAIT FOR NEWS THAT THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE AND WOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE EVERY ENDEAVOUR TO OBTAIN ACCURATE INFORMATION ON THE FATE OF THE HONG KONG CREW MEMBERS.

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE CANADIAN COAST GUARD, WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION, AND THE HONG KONG AGENTS OF "GOLD HOND CONVEYOR", FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE INCIDENT.

THE MARINE

DEPARTMENT

LIBERIAN

WILL ALSO APPROACH THE AUTHORITIES TO REQUEST ANY INQUIRY REPORTS WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE.

THE CREW COMPRISE EIGHT OFFICERS AND 21 SEAMEN FROM HONG KONG, THREE FROM CHINA AND ONE FROM TAIWAN,

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