XN000022-1994-09-23 — Page 2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1994

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DEPARTURE OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS CONCLUDES SMOOTHLY

A SECOND GROUP OF 33 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS LEFT FOR VIETNAM TODAY (FRIDAY), COMPLETING THE LATEST EXERCISE UNDER THE ORDERLY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME.

THE MAKE-UP OF THE GROUP OF RETURNEES IS SIMILAR TO THE 33 WHO LEFT YESTERDAY. THERE WERE 12 MEN, 12 WOMEN, FIVE BOYS AND FOUR GIRLS. THE OLDEST IS 45 AND THE YOUNGEST A 19-MONTH-OLD GIRL, WHO WAS BORN IN HONG KONG. THE RETURNEES HAD BEEN IN HONG KONG FOR FIVE TO SIX YEARS.

THE GROUP INCLUDED THE REMAINING THREE MEN AND ONE WOMAN OF THE 11 PEOPLE WHO WERE BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE ROOF OF A DORMITORY AT HIGH ISLAND DETENTION CENTRE DURING THE TWO-DAY OPERATION TO TRANSFER THEM FOR THE DEPARTURE FLIGHTS.

ALSO ON THE FLIGHT WAS A MAN FROM CHI MA WAN DETENTION CENTRE WHO WAS AMONG THE THREE-QUARTERS OF THE ORIGINAL LIST OF RETURNEES WHO VOLUNTEERED то BE MOVED TO VICTORIA PRISON AHEAD OF THE TRANSFER EXERCISE.

THE PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKS AT THE AIRPORT AND THE BOARDING OF THE RETURNEES WERE CONDUCTED SMOOTHLY AND THEIR PLANE DEPARTED FOR HANOI AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

ABOUT 60 CORRECTIONAL SERVICES STAFF AND 60 POLICE OFFICERS WERE INVOLVED IN TODAY'S OPERATION.

THE RETURNEES WERE ACCOMPANIED ON THE PLANE BY AN ESCORT OF 56 PEOPLE. THEY COMPRISED 47 OF THE 60 POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED

IN THE OPERATION AND NINE OTHERS. THE OTHERS WERE IMMIGRATION OFFICERS, INTERPRETERS, COUNSELLORS AND NURSING STAFF.

UPDATING FIGURES RELATING TO THE TWO-DAY OPERATION AT HIGH ISLAND ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY (SEPTEMBER 19 AND 20), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID 369 VIETNAMESE HAD SOUGHT TREATMENT SINCE THEN, AND 283 OF THEM REQUIRED TREATMENT.

HE ADDED THAT 217 COMPLAINTS OF ASSAULT HAD BEEN MADE TO DATE. THESE CASES HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING REFERRED TO THE POLICE FOR INVESTIGATION.

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