XN000022-1994-11-19 — Page 6

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1994

IN HO CHI MINH CITY, THE PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE MEETINGS WITH THE COMMITTEE FOR INVESTMENT AND CO-OPERATION; THE OFFICE OF THE MINISTRY OF TRADE; THE VIETCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY; THE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE; AND A VISIT TO A HONG KONG JOINT VENTURE FACTORY.

OF

MRS

OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION ARE: THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL INDUSTRY, MISS DENISE YUE; DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES ELIZABETH BOSHER; DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES MR TAM WING-PONG; DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER MR JOHN ASHTON; PRINCIPAL ECONOMIST MR HY CHEUNG; PRINCIPAL TRADE OFFICER MK EDMUND CHEUNG; AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY MISS ADELINE WONG.

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NO SECRET PLANS TO RELEASE 5,000 VMS

REFERRING TO AN ARTICLE WHICH APPEARED IN THE EASTERN EXPRESS THIS MORNING, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THERE WAS NO FOUNDATION WHATSOEVER IN THE STORY THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD MADE SECRET PLANS TO RELEASE UP TO 5,000 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS.

"THIS STORY IS SIMPLY UNTRUE. WE HAVE RELEASED 125 VMS. WE HAVE NO PLANS IN HAND TO INCREASE THIS NUMBER. WE HAD NO OPTION BUT TO RELEASE THOSE NOW AT LIBERTY. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AND THAT THE PROBLEMS FACED WITH EFFECTING THE REPATRIATION OF A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF MIGRANTS WILL BE QUICKLY RESOLVED.

TRANSFER OF VMS FROM

HIGH ISLAND DETENTION CENTRE TOMORROW

A GROUP OF DETENTION UNDER

THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS WILL BE TRANSFERRED FROM HIGH ISLAND CENTRE TOMORROW (SUNDAY) IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR RETURN HOME THE ORDERLY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME (ORP).

THEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO VICTORIA PRISON FOR PRE-FLIGHT DOCUMENTATION AND MEDICAL CHECKS BEFORE LEAVING HONG KONG ON NOVEMBER

25.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS DUE TO BE RETURNED ON THE NEXT ORP FLIGHT HAD BEEN GIVEN AMPLE NOTICE.

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"ON OCTOBER 28, THEY WERE TOLD THAT UNLESS THEY VOLUNTEERED NOVEMBER 4, THEY COULD BE RETURNED ON THE NEXT ORP FLIGHT.

BY

"ON NOVEMBER 18, THEY WERE ASKED TO PACK AND PRESENT THEMSELVES FOR THEIR TRANSFER FROM HIGH ISLAND.

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/AMONG THE