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Repatriation of Vietnamese Migrants
Following is a question by the Hon Zachary Wong Wai-yin and a written reply by the acting Secretary for Security, Mr Ken Woodhouse, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
The Vietnamese Government has earlier undertaken to take back 1,800 of Vietnam boat people (VBP) stranded in the territory every month. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
Reply:
(a)
(b)
(c)
Mr President,
(a)
(b)
how many VBP are expected to be repatriated to Vietnam every month;
what measures have been put in place to attain the above target of repatriation of 1,800 VBP every month, and what are the anticipated difficulties in enforcing such measures and how they can be overcome; and
whether consideration will be given to adopting mandatory repatriation so as to attain the above target; if not, why not?
It would be premature to forecast the number of Vietnamese migrants who will be repatriated until such time as the simplified procedures are implemented and assessed, but we shall, of course, strive to repatriate as many as possible each month.
To expedite the return of Vietnamese migrants to Vietnam, the simplified repatriation procedures agreed at the Sixth Steering Committee of the International Conference on Indo-Chinese refugees will be implemented.