XN000022-1996-06-10 — Page 6

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Better education has also enabled the public to understand the benefits of a nutritious and healthy diet.

But this success is not possible without the healthy economic growth which has allowed Government to devote resources to these areas the share of Government budget spent on health care has in fact increased from 11.8 per cent in 1991-92 to 13.8 per cent in 1996-97.

"Despite an achievement to date, we cannot afford to relax the struggle between man and microbes which is far from over," Mrs Fok warned, quoting AIDS and pulmonary tuberculosis as two examples.

The Secretary believed that the Congress, the first to be held in South East Asia, would provide a unique opportunity for experts from different countries to exchange views on latest developments in the field of infectious diseases, to re- establish professional contacts and to foster international collaboration.

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Tai A Chau Detention Centre to close in September

The Government announced today (Monday) that the Tai A Chau Detention Centre for Vietnamese migrants (VM) will be closed in September.

"As the VM population decreases, it is a logical step to consolidate the population into fewer camps under unified management of the Correctional Services Department (CSD)," a Government spokesman said.

"The current total VM population of 16,000 does not justify maintaining three camps."

"The annual management contract and related costs for maintaining Tai A Chau, now holding 5,600 VMs, amount to over $55 million a year," he said.

The spokesman urged all the VMs to join the voluntary repatriation programme as soon as possible, certainly before June 30, the deadline for application for the US "Resettlement Opportunity for Vietnamese Returnees Scheme".

"Their only future lies in returning to Vietnam," he said.