XN000022-1993-04-08 — Page 2

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REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO WITNESS PROTECTION

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) PUBLISHED THE REPORT OF MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER OF HIS INQUIRY INTO THE WITNESS PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS IN THE CASE OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANT NGUYEN VAN BAU, WHOSE MURDER TRIAL WAS ABORTED LAST OCTOBER.

THE REPORT GIVES A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WERE OFFERED TO THE VIETNAMESE WITNESS, MR BUI VAN-XUAN, THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS WHICH LED TO HIS REFUSAL TO TESTIFY IN COURT AND THE PROSECUTION'S SUBSEQUENT DECISION TO OFFER NO EVIDENCE IN THE CASE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED WERE STUDYING MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER'S REPORT AND WOULD CONSIDER WHAT LESSONS COULD BE LEARNED FOR THE FUTURE.

DEPARTMENTS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH, WOULD ALSO BE REVIEWING THE ACTIONS OF OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE CASE.

HE NOTED THAT ACTION HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN TO REVISE PROCEDURES RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANT WITNESSES.

"THE NEW PROCEDURES PROVIDE FOR BETTER CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN POLICE, CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND WILL

BE INVOKED IN CASES WHERE THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT A VIETNAMESE MIGRANT IS UNDER THREAT AND MIGHT NEED PROTECTION."

"FURTHERMORE, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS RECENTLY RECEIVED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE ON WITNESS PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS GENERALLY. A COPY OF THE FCC REPORT HAS BEEN SENT TO MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER, HE ADDED.

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THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE RELATE TO THE VARIOUS ARRANGEMENTS WHICH SHOULD BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT WITNESSES ARE NOT INTERFERED BEFORE THEIR GIVING EVIDENCE.

WITNESS IN THE MEASURES

THESE ARRANGEMENTS INCLUDE THE SETTING UP OF A FORMAL PROTECTION PROGRAMME AND CENTRAL WITNESS PROTECTION UNITS POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND IN OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, TO PROTECT WITNESSES GIVING EVIDENCE IN COURT AND A PUBLICITY STRATEGY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THESE MEASURES.

THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID MR JUSTICE KEMPSTER WOULD BE SUBMITTING HIS FINAL REPORT ON WITNESS PROTECTION IN GENERAL WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

"A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF EFFORT HAS GONE INTO THE PRODUCTION THIS REPORT. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO JUSTICE KEMPSTER FOR COMPLETING THIS DIFFICULT TASK SO QUICKLY,' THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

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COPIES OF THE REPORT IN ENGLISH WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT DISTRICT OFFICES PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS FROM TODAY (THURSDAY). THE CHINESE VERSION OF THE REPORT WILL BE PUBLISHED AS SOON AS THE TRANSLATION WORK IS COMPLETED.

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