FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1988
SWIFT REPATRIATION OF ECVIIS EMPHASISED
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THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR GEOFFREY BARNES, TODAY (FRIDAY) EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF SWIFT REPATRIATION OF EX-CHINA VIETNAMESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS (ECVIIS)
IN HONG KONG IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUESTS WHICH HAD BEEN PUT TO THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY EARLIER THIS WEEK.
MR BARNES SAID THAT WITH THE CURRENT POPULATION OF ROVIIS NOW APPROACHING 1,000, THE PROBLEMS OF ACCOMMODATION WERE BECOMING ACUTE.
"IT HAS BEEN NECESSARY TO FALL BACK ON FERRIES TO HOUSE THESE NEW ARRIVALS," HE SAID.
"THESE ARE CROWDED, UNCOMFORTABLE AND LACKING IN AMENITIES AND CANNOT BE CONSIDERED IDEAL, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THEIR EXPOSURE TO COLD, NORTH-EASTERLY WINDS."
MR BARNES SAID DATES HAD BEEN PROPOSED то THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES FOR THE NEXT BATCH OF ECVIIS TO RETURN BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
HE DEPLORED THE PROBLEMS AND EXPENSE WHICH THE PRESENT INFLUX OF ECVIIS WAS CAUSING TO BOTH HONG KONG AND THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES, AND HE STRESSED THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE FIRM ACTION BY BOTH SIDES.
THIS MORNING, A BATCH OF 25 ECVIIS COMPRISING THREE FAMILIES AND 16 INDIVIDUALS WERE REPATRIATED TO CHINA THROUGH SHA TAU KOK.
THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAD STAYED IN HONG KONG FOR SIX MONTHS TO 18 MONTHS.
CHINA
AFTER TODAY'S REPATRIATION, THERE ARE STILL 897 ECVIIS FROM REMAINING IN HONG KONG, OF WHOM 105 ARRIVED YESTERDAY
(THURSDAY).
MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS COMMISSIONED A YAUMATEI FERRY FOR THE ACCOMMODATION OF ECVIIS.
GREEN ISLAND
A TOTAL OF 313 ECVIIS WERE TRANSFERRED FROM THE RECEPTION CENTRE ONTO THE FERRY "MAN WAH" ANCHORED AT BUOY B7 NEAR STONECUTTERS ISLAND.
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