XN000022-1993-11-16 — Page 7

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1993

THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT DISTRICT LAND OFFICE STAFF WOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ASSIST THESE PEOPLE ΤΟ ESTABLISH THEIR POSITION RELATING TO THEIR OCCUPANCY.

BUT, IN VIEW OF THE DIFFICULTY INVOLVED IN TRACING BACK THE

LAND TITLE AND BOUNDARY ISSUES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS, THE PROCESSING OF SOME INDIVIDUAL, MAY TAKE SOME TIME.

THAT HAVE ENQUIRIES

CHIEF SECRETARY PRAISES CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

THE

CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, TODAY (TUESDAY) PRAISED THE STAFF OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (CSD) FOR PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES WITH GREAT DISTINCTION AND PROFESSIONALISM DESPITE THE ADDED BURDEN BROUGHT ABOUT BY 1 LLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS.

SPEAKING AT THE PASSING-OUT PARADE AT CSD'S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY THIS AFTERNOON, SIR DAVID NOTED THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD TO FACE MANY CHALLENGES IN RECENT YEARS.

ILLEGAL

IMMIGRATION HAS PLACED CONSIDERABLE STRAIN ON ACCOMMODATION LEADING TO SERIOUS OVERCROWDING AND HAS TESTED FULLY THE RESOURCEFULNESS OF CSD.

YOU

"THE SITUATION HAS BEEN AGGRAVATED FURTHER BY THE NEED FOR TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE CARE AND CUSTODY OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS SINCE 1978.

"THE

DEPARTMENT HAS COPED WITH THAT SITUATION EXTREMELY WELL AND DESERVES THE ADMIRATION OF THE COMMUNITY FOR ALL ITS EFFORTS, SIR DAVID SAID.

"PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THIS HAS NOT BEEN PART OF THE REGULAR JOB THE DEPARTMENT. NEVERTHELESS STAFF HAVE PERFORMED THIS DUTY WITH GREAT DISTINCTION AND PROFESSIONALISM, HE SAID.

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IN SPITE OP THESE CHANGES AND CHALLENGES, HE SAID, THE COMMITMENT OF CSD STAFF HAS BEEN THERE FOR ALL TO SEE. THE CHALLENGES WHICH LIE AHEAD WOULD REQUIRE A DEDICATED, FORWARD-LOOKING AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF.

"THE DUTIES YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO UNDERTAKE WILL BE ONEROUS. DEMANDING, AND AT TIMES STRESSFUL, HE ADDED.

"CSD HAS DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF PROGRAMMES CATERED FOR THE VARYING NERDS OF PRISONERS. NEW INITIATIVES HAVE ALSO BEEN TAKEN TO BROADEN THE SCOPE OF AFTERCARE SUPERVISION, SIR DAVID SAID.

"TO

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COPE WITH THE BVER – INCREASING DEMAND FOR MORE AND BETTER SERVICES THE STRENGTH OF THE DEPARTMENT HAS GROWN OVER FOUR TIMES SINCE E FIRST CAME TO HONG KONG 25 YEARS AGO, FROM AROUND 1,300 IN 1968 TO OVER 7,000 TODAY, HE RECALLED.

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