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WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 1994
VISITS BY REFUGEE CO-ORDINATOR TO DETENTION CENTRES
THE REFUGEE CO-ORDINATOR VISITED THE VIETNAMESE DETENTION CENTRES ON EIGHT OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHRISTINE LOH, ASPREY SAID: "APART FROM SOME BRIEF EXCHANGES WITH INDIVIDUAL DETAINEES, HE DID NOT SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS,"
THE REFUGEE CO-ORDINATOR HAS VISITED THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE FOUR TIMES AND ONCE EACH TO TAI A CHAU DETENTION CENTRE, HIGH ISLAND DETENTION CENTRE, KAI TAK DETENTION CENTRE AND VICTORIA PRISON.
THE
FATE OF VIETNAMESE IN TRANSIT CENTRE UNDECIDED
ADMINISTRATION IS NEGOTIATING WITH THE PHILIPPINES AUTHORITIES FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE USE OF A REGIONAL TRANSIT CENTRE (RTC) FACILITIES BEYOND THE END OF THIS SEPTEMBER.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY. IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON TANG SIU-TONG.
"AT THIS JUNCTURE, IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO ASSUME THAT THESE NEGOTIATIONS WILL BE UNSUCCESSFUL, MR ASPREY SAID.
It
SINCE 1990, VIETNAMESE ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN HONG KONG WHO ARE GRANTED REFUGEE STATUS HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE RTC IN THE PHILIPPINES TO AWAIT RESETTLEMENT.
A RECENT REPORT IN A CHINESE PAPER NOTED THAT ABOUT 1,000 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WERE EXPECTED TO BE SENT BACK TO HONG KONG UPON THE CLOSING DOWN OF A VIETNAMESE RTC IN THE PHILIPPINES IN LATE
SEPTEMBER.
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