XN000022-1996-11-13 — Page 43

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To resolve the VM problem we have been negotiating with the Vietnamese authorities on the repatriation of all VMs to Vietnam. A technical meeting was held with Vietnamese officials last month to discuss means to speed up the clearance of VMs for return. During his visit to Hanoi from 31st October to 2nd November, the British Foreign Secretary also urged the Vietnamese authorities to resolve the problem of the remaining VMs in Hong Kong. We shall continue our discussions with Vietnamese Government with a view to securing the return of all VMs to Vietnam as soon as possible.

As the VMs released on recognisance were without travel documents, have been found not to be refugees, and have been refused permission to remain in Hong Kong, they are in the same position as illegal immigrants. Their status would not be affected by the change of sovereignty in 1997. They will be removed under S.13E of the Immigration Ordinance when that can be arranged.

End

Waterproof roofing system for public housing blocks

Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Mr Dominic Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Recently, many public housing tenants living in the top floor flats of slab housing blocks built in the nineteen-eighties have complained about the problem of water leakage in the ceilings of their flats. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

of the number of complaints received by the Housing Department (HD) over the past three years regarding water leakage in the ceilings of the flats mentioned above;

whether the water leakage is in any way related to the thermal insulation design of the rooftops of the housing blocks concerned; if not, what the causes of leakage are;