XN000022-1994-10-26 — Page 82

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994

213 COMPLAINTS RECEIVED FROM WHITEHEAD VIETNAMESE

FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY THE HON CHRISTINE LOH KUNG-WAI A WRITTEN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

QUESTION REGARDING THE REMOVAL OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE (VBP)

AND

IN

FROM

THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE ON 7 APRIL 1994, WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL OF THE FOLLOWING:

(A) HOW MANY VBP HAVE LODGED COMPLAINTS ABOUT ILL-

TREATMENT ON 7 APRIL 1994;

(B)

(C)

(D)

WHETHER ANY OF THE VBP WHO HAVE LODGED COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN DEPORTED; IF SO, HOW MANY;

IN RESPECT OF (B) ABOVE, WHETHER ALL THE COMPLAINTS LODGED BY THE VBP HAD BEEN FULLY INVESTIGATED BEFORE THEY WERE DEPORTED; IF SO, WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO EACH OF THE COMPLAINTS; IF NOT, HOW MANY VBP WERE DEPORTED BEFORE THEIR COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FULLY INVESTIGATED, WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE COMPLAINT IN EACH CASE, AND WHY WAS DEPORTATION NOT POSTPONED IN EACH CASE UNTIL THE COMPLAINT HAD INVESTIGATED; AND

BEEN

THAT WHO

WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE. AN UNDERTAKING THERE WILL HENCEFORTH BE NO DEPORTATION OF THOSE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT ILL-TREATMENT UNTIL THEIR COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FULLY INVESTIGATED AND ANY CONSEQUENTIAL CRIMINAL OR CIVIL ACTIONS OR INTERNAL DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED?

REPLY:

MR PRESIDENT,

(A)

125 COMPLAINTS OF ASSAULT FROM 99 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS AND 88 COMPLAINTS OF THEFT/LOST PROPERTY VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS IN RELATION TO THE CAMP OPERATION IN WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE ON HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.

FROM 88 TRANSFER 7 APRIL

(B&C) NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS HAS BEEN DEPORTED

REPATRIATED TO VIETNAM,

(D)

OR

TO BE THE

UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION, ALL VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN DETERMINED NON-REFUGEES MUST RETURN TO VIETNAM. ADMINISTRATION IS NOT WILLING TO GIVE A BLANKET UNDERTAKING WHICH WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF DELAYING THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE PLAN. HOWEVER, WE WOULD NOT JEOPARDIZE CRIMINAL ACTIONS BEFORE THE COURTS OR LIKELY TO COME BEFORE THE COURTS DEPORTING OR REPATRIATING ESSENTIAL WITNESSES.

BY

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