SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1994
TODAY
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VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS VOLUNTEER FOR TRANSFER
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IN ANSWER то PRESS ENQUIRIES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID (SUNDAY) THAT 40 OF THE GROUP OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS SCHEDULED ΤΟ LEAVE HONG KONG FOR VIETNAM ON SEPTEMBER 22 AND 23 UNDER THE ORDERLY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED VOLUNTARILY ΤΟ VICTORIA PRISON.
THEY COMPRISE 39 PEOPLE FROM HIGH ISLAND DETENTION CENTRE AND ONE RETURNEE WHO WAS AT CHI MA WAN DETENTION CENTRE.
IT WAS ANNOUNCED ON SEPTEMBER 16 THAT 82 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO VICTORIA PRISON TOMORROW FOR DOCUMENTATION AND OTHER PROCEDURES TO BE CARRIED OUT IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR RETURN HOME THIS WEEK.
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"WE ARE OBVIOUSLY PLEASED THAT HALF OF THE RETURNEES HAVE ALREADY VOLUNTEERED TO BE MOVED AHEAD OF THE TRANSFER EXERCISE, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
"IT WAS ALWAYS OUR HOPE THAT THE TRANSFER WOULD TAKE PLACE IN A PEACEFUL MANNER AND THIS DEVELOPMENT BODES WELL FOR THE REPATRIATION EXERCISE AS A WHOLE, HE ADDED.
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IN CONJUNCTION WITH LAST FRIDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DATES FOR THE EXERCISE, ADDITIONAL COUNSELLING WAS UNDERTAKEN BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
"COUNSELLING OF THE RETURNEES WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THEIR RETURN HOME TO VIETNAM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID,
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"THE OTHER RETURNEES AT HIGH ISLAND COULD STILL VOLUNTEER ΤΟ MOVE TO VICTORIA PRISON TODAY," HE ADDED.
TOMORROW'S EXERCISE WILL INVOLVE THE TRANSFER OF REMAINING MIGRANTS AT HIGH ISLAND, AND THE WHOLE GROUP AT VICTORIA PRISON WILL THEN LEAVE HONG KONG ON SEPARATE FLIGHTS ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
METHADONE BENEFITS SOCIETY
METHADONE PATIENTS ARE USEFUL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AND CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SOME SERVICE THAT BENEFITS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR ALASDAIR SINCLAIR, TOLD THE CARITAS LOK HEEP CLUB'S 26TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TODAY (SUNDAY).
"METHADONE PATIENTS DESERVE TO BE VALUED AND RESPECTED AS AS ANY HUMAN BEINGS.
MUCH
"HOWEVER, SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE A NEGATIVE IMAGE OF THEM AND THIS IS UNJUSTIFIED, THE COMMISSIONER SAID.
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/"METHADONE PROGRAMME