2.
The Whitehead Detention Centre was first opened in January 1989 when the VM population in Hong Kong stood at about 11,000. When the VM population reached its height of nearly 60,000 in October 1991, the centre provided accommodation for about 25,000.
"The Government is firmly committed to resolving the problem of the remaining VMs in Hong Kong as soon as possible," Ms Wong said.
"Should the current rate of repatriation continue, it should be possible to close all VM camps by the middle of this year.
"The closure of the Whitehead Detention Centre is a watershed in the whole VM saga, signalling the beginning of the end of the problem," she said.
End
Transfer of VMs from Whitehead Detention Centre today
A total of about 530 Vietnamese migrants (VMs) will be transferred from Section 6 of Whitehead Detention Centre (WHDC) to the security units of WHDC and High Island Detention Centre (HIDC) today (Friday) in preparation for their return to Vietnam under the Orderly Repatriation Programme.
They will go through pre-flight documentation and medical checks prior to their repatriation on January 7 and 14.
All remaining VMs in Section 6 will also be transferred to HIDC today.
The transfers will be observed by independent monitors.
After the transfers, the main camp of WHDC will be closed down, leaving only the two voluntary repatriation centres, about 270 ex-China Vietnamese illegal immigrants, and the security unit in the camp to provide temporary holding facilities for some VMs immediately prior to their repatriation under ORP.
End