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The entire High Island Detention Centre (HIDC), the last detention centre for Vietnamese migrants in Hong Kong, is closed today (Tuesday) after the return of a group of 267 Vietnamese by air to Hanoi on the 119th and the 120th flights under the Orderly Repatriation Programme (ORP).

The group comprises 265 illegal immigrants and two migrants. The remaining 32 Vietnamese in HIDC have been transferred to other correctional institutions.

The north camp of HIDC was closed in January this year when the Vietnamese population in the camp dropped to about 900. Only two sections in the south camp and a security unit remained in operation since then. The closure of the whole centre will result in a savings of some $60 million per year.

"The closing of HIDC is a landmark achievement in the final chapter of the whole Vietnamese boat people saga," the Deputy Secretary for Security, Ms Sally Wong, said. The centre will be mothballed to cater for any unexpected upsurge of new arrivals.

"Since the emergence of the Vietnamese boat people problem in 1975, over 200,000 Vietnamese have arrived in Hong Kong. During one of the most difficult times in October 1991, we had to accommodate over 64,300 Vietnamese people in 14 camps in our tiny and densely populated territory."

With the vigorous efforts of the Government and other organisations, the Vietnamese population in Hong Kong has dropped to about 1,150 Vietnamese refugees (VRs), 660 Vietnamese migrants (VMs) who came during the days of the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA), and 350 Vietnamese illegal immigrants (VIIs) who came after the end of CPA.

Some 143,500 VRs have been resettled overseas, and over 70,000 non-refugees (including some 67,100 VMs and 2,900 VIIs) have been repatriated to Vietnam.

"The Government will continue with its best effort to bring the residual problem of VRs/VMs/VIIs in Hong Kong to a full and satisfactory conclusion," Ms Wong said.

Returnees on today's ORP flight comprise 231 men, 34 women and two boys.

The majority of them arrived in Hong Kong in 1997, with the remaining in 1988, 1989, 1995, 1996 and 1998.

The group brought to 12,604 the total number of Vietnamese repatriated on ORP flights since October 1991.

End/Tuesday, May 26, 1998

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