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further compromise ideas with Treasury officials. We will re-submit in September for the deferred meeting.
Ex-China Vietnamese Illegal Immigrants
9. The influx has not slowed and there are now more than 2,000 ECVIIS in Hong Kong. Despite their promises of full co-operation the Chinese have still not taken any ECVIIS back.
Mr Lennox-Boyd called in the Chinese Charge d'Affaires on
4 August to emphasise the need for urgent action. On 13 August, the MFA called in Nigel Cox to say they planned to contact Hong Kong "in the near future" to arrange repatriation. (This may be a sign of determined action, at last). Separate submission
proposes that Mr Goodlad raise this with Ambassador Ma on his
return.
Fire in Shenzhen
10. A warehouse in Shenzhen housing dangerous goods caught fire and exploded on 5 August killing 12 people including two deputy directors of the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau. Hong Kong offered firefighting and medical assistance (in response to a request from the NCNA) although the Chinese appear to have had several thoughts about appearing reliant on Hong Kong help. Press reports suggested chemical fallout from the fire might
pollute Hong Kong's food or water but there have been no signs of this yet.
second
Progress in the JLG
11. The Chinese finally gave approval to the contract for the South East New Territories Landfill on 10 August (the day the tender was to expire). HKG have now signed this contract with Green Valley Landfill Ltd. No progress has been made on
Container Terminal Number 9.
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