Hong Kong to Close Last Vietnamese Refugees' Detention CenterHong Kong is going to close its last Vietnamese refugees' detention center scheduled by midnight, May 31.Deputy Secretary of HK Security Bureau, Mr. T. Tong Monday told newsmen that those who should still stay in the center after May 31 will no longer be regarded as inmates of the center and that any future stowaways found in would be ousted at any time. Three months ago, the HKSAR government declared a plan to naturalize an increased number of Vietnamese refugees and decided to shut down the last detention center of refugees from Vietnam. As is decided, refugees when naturalized will be given an allowance of HK$ 3,950 to HK$ 11,410 according to their family size. By now, there are as many as 1,274 Vietnamese refugees, 90% of the whole number of 1,400 inmates kept in the center having applied for the right of residence in Hong Kong. Vietnamese refugees who arrived in HK before January 9, 1998 and who have never left the center from that date on, including fishermen enjoying the same qualification from Vietnam, can apply for permanent residence in Hong Kong, according to stipulations promulgated. |
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