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83 VMs depart on Orderly Repatriation flight
A group of 83 Vietnamese migrants (VMs) returned to Vietnam today (Tuesday) on the 26th flight under the Orderly Repatriation Programme (ORP).
The returnees, comprising 37 men, 19 women, 16 boys and 11 girls, were mainly from High Island Detention Centre. The oldest is 46 years old and the youngest 10 months.
Most of them arrived in Hong Kong in 1988 and 1989, with three in 1990 and two in 1991.
The group brought to 1,624 the total number repatriated on ORP flights since November 1991.
The returnees were transported to the airport early this morning for pre- departure security checks before boarding their flight for Hanoi.
Commenting on today's flight, the Refugee Co-ordinator, Mr Brian Bresnihan, stressed that the Government remained committed to the repatriation of all the VMs in Hong Kong's camps.
"The Comprehensive Plan of Action provides that the migrants must return to Vietnam. Their refusal to volunteer to go home leaves us with no option but to return them through the Orderly Repatriation Programme," he said.
End/Tuesday, October 24, 1995
Monitors' report submitted to Chief Secretary
The monitors appointed to observe the Orderly Repatriation Programme operation this (Tuesday) morning have submitted their report to the Chief Secretary.
The monitors were Dr Philip Kwok Chi-kuen, a Justice of Peace; and Mr Adam Voysey from Christian Action.
End/Tuesday, October 24, 1995