XN000022-1995-11-15 — Page 40

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VMs repatriation programmes

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

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council of the details and progress of the various programmes for the repatriation of Vietnamese migrants (VMs), as well as the estimated time when all the VMs stranded in the territory will be repatriated?

Reply:

Mr President,

Under the Comprehensive Plan of Action, all Vietnamese migrants who have been determined to be non-refugees must return to Vietnam. They may return under the voluntary repatriation programme (Volrep) which is administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. If they do not volunteer, they will be repatriated under the Orderly Repatriation Programme (ORP) which is operated by the Hong Kong Government. To date, over 47,000 Vietnamese migrants have returned to Vietnam under these two programmes:

Year

Volrep

ORP

Yearly total

1989

867

867

1990

5,429

5,429

1991

7,660

87

7,747

1992

12,332

249

12,581

1993

12,301

399

12,700

1994

5,581

250

5,831

1995*

1,389

639

2,028

Total

45,559

1,624

47,183

as at November 8, 1995

The Administration is committed to the repatriation of all the Vietnamese

migrants as soon as possible.

End/Wednesday, November 15, 1995

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