XN000022-1995-07-18 — Page 8

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Both side agreed that in view of the economic development of Hong Kong, Guangdong and the whole of China, to develop additional cross-border transport capacity was necessary.

Taking into account the impact of the above two proposals on Hong Kong's transport infrastructure and environment, the two sides have discussed the work plan for carrying out studies on the above subjects and agreed to conduct such studies in a phased manner in accordance with the different functions and the progress made in the preliminary work of the two proposals.

Both sides indicated that they would, as in the past, strengthen their co- operation and work closely in a positive manner.

The above mentioned consensus will be reported to the third plenary of the Infrastructure Coordinating Committee.

End/Tuesday, July 18, 1995

Government's account on the July 7 Whitehead incident

In response to media enquiries on an article in an English language newspaper today (Tuesday) relating to an incident which took place in the Whitehead Detention Centre on July 7, a government spokesman gave an account of what actually happened on that occasion:

"At about 2 pm on July 7, 1995, the management of the Whitehead Detention Centre were informed by International Social Service (ISS) Hong Kong Branch, the Non Government Organisation (NGO) responsible for the delivery of education in the camps, that some Vietnamese Migrant (VM) students had refused to sit for their final examinations and that the Senior Centre Co-ordinator of ISS was dealing with the situation.

"Forty-five minutes later, the management were asked to take the children concerned back to their respective sections in the Centre. Five Correctional Services Department (CSD) officers arrived at the school complex. Eighty-six students and eight teachers were returned to Section 2 at 3.20 pm. All of them left peacefully and of their own accord.