EIGHTEEN Vietnamese asylum-seekers are suing the Government for damages, claiming they were beaten by staff at a detention centre.
A writ taken out by the men against Correctional Services Commissioner Eric McCosh demands compensation for injuries allegedly inflicted last month.
The endorsement to the writ, filed in the Supreme Court earlier this week, reads: ''The plaintiffs claim damages for injuries sustained on July 12, 1993, in Nei Kwu Chau detention centre as the result of assault by officers under the direction and control of the Commissioner for Correctional Services.'' The men, now detained in the high-security Upper Chi Ma Wan camp, have to sue the Attorney-General, Jeremy Mathews, on behalf of Mr McCosh, who returns to work today after being on leave.
Refugee Concern Hong Kong chairman Pam Baker, who is helping the Vietnamese boat people bring their legal challenge, said the men had been locked in a hut in Nei Kwu Chau by CSD officers the night after one migrant escaped.
Some of the inmates were due to be moved to Hei Ling Chau before being sent back to Vietnam under the Government's Orderly Repatriation Programme.
''They were making a peaceful protest in support of two people in their hut who were being forcibly repatriated,'' Mrs Baker said.
''My argument would be that all the CSD had to do was to let them shout themselves out.
