FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1994
1
TRANSFER OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS FROM HIGH ISLAND
案案
THE
THE
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT 81 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS WOULD BE TRANSFERRED FROM HIGH ISLAND DETENTION CENTRE NEXT MONDAY (SEPTEMBER 19) IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR RETURN HOME UNDER ORDERLY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME. ANOTHER PERSON WILL BE TRANSFERRED FROM CHI MA WAN DETENTION CENTRE.
THEY WILL BE MOVED TO VICTORIA PRISON FOR DOCUMENTATION, MEDICAL CHECKS AND OTHER PROCEDURES TO BE CARRIED OUT BEFORE LEAVING HONG KONG ON SEPTEMBER 22 AND 23.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE MIGRANTS WHO WERE SUBJECT ΤΟ REPATRIATION HAD BEEN GIVEN PLENTY OF ADVANCE NOTICE.
"THEY WERE TOLD ON AUGUST 22 THAT THEY WOULD BE RETURNED HOME IN UPCOMING REPATRIATION EXERCISES IF THEY DID NOT VOLUNTEER BEFORE SEPTEMBER 2," HE POINTED OUT,
"THE 82 WHO WILL BE TRANSFERRED NEXT WEEK WERE INFORMED TODAY OF THE MOVE, AND OF THEIR DEPARTURE FROM HONG KONG, HE ADDED.
ADD DATE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE HELP OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WAS SOUGHT TO ΤΟ THE COUNSELLING THAT THE MIGRANTS HAD ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO
**STAFF OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAVE SPOKEN то EACH OF THE 82 PEOPLE AND ASKED THEM TO BE PREPARED TO LEAVE.
"IT
SAID.
IS OUR FERVENT HOPE THAT THEY WILL DO SO VOLUNTARILY,
H
HE
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE TRANSFER WOULD BE MONITORED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF CHRISTIAN ACTION AND OXFAM AND NON-OFFICIAL JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
THE APPOINTMENT OF MONITORS IS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE REPORT ON THE WHITEHEAD INCIDENT ON APRIL 7.
"WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE TWO NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS (NGOS) AND THE NON-OFFICIAL JUSTICES OF THE PEACE FOR AGREEING TO TAKE UP THIS MONITORING ROLE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
I
"WE ARE HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER NGOS WHO HAVE WORKED WITH VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS IN THE DETENTION CENTRES AND ARE HOPEFUL THAT MORE WILL PARTICIPATE IN FUTURE EXERCISES."
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE ROLE OF THE MONITORS WAS ΤΟ OBSERVE THE TRANSFER AND DEPARTURE EXERCISES AND TO REPORT ON THEM.
"THE MONITORS WILL BE FULLY BRIEFED BEFORE EACH OPERATION, THEY WILL BE FREE TO MOVE WITHIN THE CAMP AND DEPARTURE AREAS, SUBJECT ONLY TO THE DECISIONS OF THE FIELD COMMANDERS WITH REGARD то THEIR SAFETY. THEY WILL ACT AS OBSERVERS AND NOT INTERMEDIARIES, AND WILL NOT INTERVENE IN THE OPERATIONS, HE EXPLAINED.
"I
THE MONITORS