1997年英语专业四级真题听力原文本（C）

　　SECTION C NEWS BROADCAST

　　News Item One (17)
　　The authorities in Hong Kong have released the second group of Vietnamese boat people from detention after Vietnam refused to accept them. The group of sixteen had been detained in 1991 when they entered Hong Kong. The release last month of more than 100 boat people in Hong Kong caused protest from local residents opposing any move to allow the boat people to stay permanently. There are still some 24,000 Vietnamese boat people in detention camps in Hong Kong.

　　News Item Two (18-19)
　　NATO troops are to join their former Cold War enemies in training exercises in Poland this week. The drills which will begin on the 17th are the first major joint exercises of the Western and Eastern armies under NATO’s partnership. Some 900 soldiers from 13 countries will take part. NATO says it will be a good way to share peace-keeping experiences and develop a common understanding of operational procedures.

　　News Item Three (20-22)
　　A twenty-year action plan for cutting the rate of world population growth is expected to win wide approval today in Cairo. Delegates at the UN-sponsored conference on population complete the final talks on the plan Monday. The document is non-binding but it will serve as a guideline for countries and states that fund health care and family planning programs. The world population of 5.7 billion currently is growing at more than 90 million a year.

　　News Item Four (23-25)
　　In the Philippines a ferry carrying at least 400 people has sunk after an apparent collision with a cargo ship. There was no immediate report of casualties. The accident occurred at about 11:30 a. m. , local time, at the mouth of Manila Bay shortly after the ferry left the Manila port. A Philippines coast guard’s spokesman said the ferry had been hit by a 12,000 ton Singapore registered cargo vessel. Further details were not immediately available.