XN000022-1993-04-03+04+05 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1993

CENTRAL AND WANCHAI RECLAMATION TENDER EXTENDED

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IN RESPONSE TO MEDIA ENQUIRIES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THE TWO LOWEST TENDERERS FOR THE CENTRAL AND WANCHAI RECLAMATION HAVE AGREED TO EXTEND THE VALIDITY OF THEIR TENDERS FOR A FURTHER THREE MONTHS FROM APRIL 6 TO JULY 5, 1993.

THE RECLAMATION WILL PROVIDE LAND FOR A NUMBER OF PURPOSES WHICH WILL BE OF VALUE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG.

IT IS PARTLY DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE THE HONG KONG STATION Of THE AIRPORT RAILWAY BUT WILL ALSO PROVIDE NEW LAND FOR EXPANSION OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AND FOR LONG-TERM HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT.

THE EXTENSION OF THE TENDER VALIDITY PERIOD IS TO GIVE THE GOVERNMENT MORE TIME TO CONSIDER ITS OPTIONS ON THE RECLAMATION, IN LINE WITH ITS STEP BY STEP APPROACH TO DECISIONS ON THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME.

IT DOES NOT DIMINISH THE GOVERNMENT'S AIRPORT RAILWAY OR THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME.

COMMITMENT ΤΟ THE

FCC MEETS ON WITNESS PROTECTION REPORT

THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (FCC) HELD A SPECIAL MEETING TODAY (SATURDAY) TO EXAMINE THE REPORT PRODUCED BY THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON WITNESS PROECTION.

THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WAS SET UP IN NOVEMBER 1992 ΤΟ EXAMINE EXISTING WITNESS PROTECTION AND WITNESS ASSURANCE MEASURES, ΤΟ CONSIDER THE APPLICABILITY TO HONG RONG OF OVERSEAS VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE SCHEMES AND TO EXPLORE WAYS TO REINFORCE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN WITNESS PROTECTION MEASURES.

HEADED BY THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS OF THE POLICE, MR EDDIE HUI, IT CONSISTED OF TWO NON-OFFICIAL FCC MEMBERS, MRS MIRIAM LAU AND MR PETER WONG, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE POLICE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS, CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE BRANCH.

SECURITY

HAVING CONSIDERED THE FINDINGS OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, THE FCC ENDORSED THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS:

ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT A WITNESS WILL NOT BE INTERFERED WITH PRIOR TO HIS GIVING EVIDENCE; TO THIS END,

A WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED LAYING DOWN THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR PROVIDING PROTECTION FOR HIGH RISK WITNESSES;

/* GENERAL WITNESS