XN000022-1996-03-13 — Page 35

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Conversion of Lo Wu military camp being considered

Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Hon-chung and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It was mentioned in the Policy Commitments published by the Government in 1995 that consideration was being given to converting a former military camp at Lo Wu into a penal institution. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

Reply:

(a)

of the progress of the study mentioned above;

(b)

(c)

Mr President.

(a)

(b)

whether the Government will still go ahead with the plan without the support of the North District Board which has passed a motion opposing the plan; and

Whether, as the proposed conversion of the military camp at Lo Wu will only provide 300 prison places and there is an overall shortage of some 3,000 prison places in the territory, there is a comprehensive plan to resolve the problem of shortage of prison places?

Our study has concluded that it is feasible to convert the former military camp at Lo Wu into a minimum security prison. Since December last year, we have been consulting the North District Board on this proposal. Certain concerns were expressed to us, in response to which we have last month forwarded a comprehensive response to the District Board. We have not received further comments from the District Board.

Consultation with the local community, including the North District Board, is an on-going exercise and I would not wish to speculate on the final outcome or the Government's decision. We are still pursuing this proposal, and will do what we can to address the concerns expressed by the local community. I would, however, take this opportunity to urge North District Board members not to close their minds to the Government's proposal, and to play their part in addressing the whole community's concern on the need to relief prison over-crowding.