XN000022-1995-02-15 — Page 70

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1,052 Viet migrants given jail term in 93 and 94

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Tang Siu-tong and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

With regard to the Vietnamese Boat People (VBP) who have been convicted of criminal offences and given prison sentences, will the Government inform this Council:

Reply:

(a)

(b)

(c)

Mr President,

(a)

(b)

(c)

.

of the total number of VBP convicted and given prison sentences in the past two years, together with the longest and average prison terms;

whether any VBP are serving prison terms that straddle 30 June 1997; if so, the total number of such VBP and whether they will be repatriated as soon as they have served out their prison terms; and

whether, in regard to those VBP whose prison terms stretch beyond 30 June 1997, the Government has conducted any negotiations with the Vietnamese Government for such VBP to be repatriated after that date so that they can continue to serve the remainder of their prison terms in their own country?

In 1993 and 1994, 1,052 Vietnamese migrants were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment. The longest prison term was life imprisonment, and the average was eight months.

Vietnamese migrants are now serving sentences which will straddle 30 June 1997. The intention is that they should be deported to Vietnam after they have served their sentences.

The Administration has not conducted any negotiations with the Vietnamese Government on the possibility of Vietnamese migrants who are serving prison sentences in Hong Kong being repatriated to serve the remainder of their sentences in Vietnam.

End/Wednesday, February 15, 1995

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