57
Operation to transfer 163 VMs completed
The operation this (Thursday) morning to transfer 163 Vietnamese migrants (VMs) from the North Camp of High Island Detention Centre to Victoria Prison was completed at Mid-day. This group of VMs has been selected for return to Vietnam on two Orderly Repatriation Programme (ORP) flights on October 17 and 24.
There were incidents in the High Island Detention Centre overnight during which VMs engaged in stone-throwing and blocked the main entrance to the North Section with containers. The situation was contained but not before three Correctional Services Department (CSD) officers were slightly injured.
At 7 am today, an announcement was made in the Camp asking the 163 VMs selected for repatriation to present themselves for transfer.
Some came forward but they were unable to exit from the Camp because of the blocked gates. The VMs burnt two containers, one of which was used by Medecins Sans Frontieres as a baby clinic. At about 10 am, when police and CSD officers broke into the North Section of the Camp, they faced resistance and 13 rounds of tearsmoke were used. Order was quickly restored.
By about noon, all 163 VMs selected for repatriation had been identified and they left the Camp at 1 pm.
After their departure, further sporadic incidents broke out. The VMs sought to set fire to a water tank and threw stones at CSD staff.
A further nine CSD officers and two policemen sustained injuries during the operation.
The Refugee Co-ordinator, Mr Brian Bresnihan, said the operation had been relatively smooth.
"We did not witness the strong resistance encounter during similar operation earlier this year. Perhaps this group realised that their only option is to return to Vietnam," he said.
He reiterated that the Hong Kong Government remained committed to the repatriation of all the VMs in the territory as soon as possible.
End/Thursday, October 12, 1995
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.