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VMs repatriation programmes
Following is a question by the Hon Lau Hon-chuen and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council of the details and progress of the various programmes for the repatriation of Vietnamese migrants (VMs), as well as the estimated time when all the VMs stranded in the territory will be repatriated?
Reply:
Mr President,
Under the Comprehensive Plan of Action, all Vietnamese migrants who have been determined to be non-refugees must return to Vietnam. They may return under the voluntary repatriation programme (Volrep) which is administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. If they do not volunteer, they will be repatriated under the Orderly Repatriation Programme (ORP) which is operated by the Hong Kong Government. To date, over 47,000 Vietnamese migrants have returned to Vietnam under these two programmes:
Year
Volrep
ORP
Yearly total
1989
867
867
1990
5,429
5,429
1991
7,660
87
7,747
1992
12,332
249
12,581
1993
12,301
399
12,700
1994
5,581
250
5,831
1995*
1,389
639
2,028
Total
45,559
1,624
47,183
as at November 8, 1995
The Administration is committed to the repatriation of all the Vietnamese
migrants as soon as possible.
End/Wednesday, November 15, 1995
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