The Tai A Chau population are all southern Vietnamese. They will be transferred to Whitehead Detention Centre in September.
In the meantime, northern VMs still in Whitehead in September will be moved to the High Island Detention Centre, and any remaining southern VMs in High Island will be transferred to Whitehead.
After the transfers, High Island Detention Centre will be used exclusively to accommodate northern VMs and Whitehead Detention Centre will be designated exclusively for southern VMs.
As announced by the Secretary for Security last month, security measures are being stepped up in Whitehead Detention Centre. These include reinforcing the perimeter fence, setting up a reinforced secure area, and demolishing certain structures to facilitate security operations. The works should be completed by August.
The Correctional Services Department will also beef up the manning of the detention centre.
Security at High Island Detention Centre will also be improved.
Noting that the Orderly Repatriation Programme is now conducted at a monthly rate of at least 600 and more VMs have volunteered to return, the spokesman said the camp population was expected to be reduced at a faster pace over the coming months.
Tai A Chau is an outlying island situated to the south-east of Lantau Island. The detention centre commenced operation in February 1991 with a capacity of 9,600. It once held a peak population of almost 9,700 in November 1991.
The Tai A Chau Centre is currently managed by Hong Kong Housing Services for Refugees, a non-profit making company which previously managed the Pillar Point Refugee Centre for the UNHCR.
"We are grateful to Hong Kong Housing Services for Refugees for their valuable assistance in handling the mass influx of VMs during the difficult times in 1991, and for managing Tai A Chau since it opened," the spokesman said.
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