XN000022-1996-03-07 — Page 19

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Outcome of Geneva meeting on VMs welcomed

A government spokesman today (Thursday) welcomes the outcome at the seventh meeting of the Steering Committee of International Conference on Indo- Chinese Refugees in Geneva to reaffirm unanimously that the only viable option for Vietnamese who have been determined to be non-refugees is return to Vietnam.

"We are pleased to note that while Comprehensive Plan of Action would officially come to a conclusion by the end of June 1996, special arrangements will continue to be made in the case of Hong Kong in the light of prevailing special circumstances, with the aim of solving the Vietnamese boat people problem in Hong Kong as soon as possible after June 30, 1996," he said.

"In other words, UNHCR will continue its operations in, and assistance to Hong Kong beyond that date."

The Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, and the Refugee Co-ordinator, Mr Brian Bresnihan, attended the meeting which was held on March 5 and 6.

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Asbestos regulation to be gazetted

The Air Pollution Control (Asbestos) (Administration) Regulation, setting out the qualifications, conditions and procedures for registration as asbestos consultants, contractors, supervisors and laboratories, will be gazetted tomorrow (Friday).

The registration system will start shortly after the implementation of the Regulation on May 1.

"This will enable the control of environmental asbestos under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance to take full effect by the end of the year," Principal Environmental Protection Officer of the Environmental Protection Department, Mr Tse Chin-wan, said today.

"Statutory control of asbestos is necessary. It is well proven that inhalation of airborne asbestos fibres may lead to serious illnesses, such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.