LENGTHY delays in the forced repatriation of hundreds of Vietnamese boat people approved for deportation by Hanoi have prompted security panel legislators to demand urgent details of government plans for the group. About 500 Vietnamese have received permission from Vietnamese delegations in Hong Kong to be deported under the Government's orderly repatriation programme, but no effort has been made to deport them quickly despite a looming deadline for the clearance of the territory's detention centres. The last ordinary repatriation programme flights were in September when 66 people were deported, and the next flight is not scheduled until later this month, prompting legislator Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee to ask why more flights have not been scheduled. It is understood the Government fears many of the people approved for the ordinary repatriation programme would violently resist moves to take them from the camps. About 100 people will be returned on a flight scheduled for November 25. In what insiders said appeared to be an attempt to deflect heat on the issue, the Government said the group approved for repatriation was seeking return under the voluntary programme run by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Government Refugees Co-ordinator Brian Bresnihan has refused to comment on any Vietnamese issues during the week, except those relating to the completion of the screening process for asylum-seekers. He has acknowledged the Government could not meet the internationally-set deadline of the end of next year to repatriate the 24,000 Vietnamese in Hong Kong. Mrs Chow said it was unacceptable that the Government was not pulling out all stops to repatriate people as often as it could. 'The Government has said the ordinary repatriation programme is a big stick, so I can't see why they aren't taking advantage of it.' Since September's raid to remove a group of people from the High Island camp, more than 500 people have volunteered for repatriation - a record compared with recent months, which have been at an all-time low. Sources within the Vietnamese return programme said it was unacceptable that the Government was not taking people for the scheme from all the camps in a bid to boost the number returning voluntarily. Legislator and security panel member James To Kun-sun said the Government needed to show determination when it came to clearing the camps. Mr To said it was also essential that the Government maintain a strong element of transparency in its plans because of the potential for inflaming the issue. The Government's failure to provide details on plans for the repatriation of Vietnamese follows no response on two other key issues relating to the boat people this week. A report alleging the illegal detention of about 400 asylum seekers in Hong Kong brought no response from the Government, despite moves to challenge the legality of the group's detention in court. The Government also refused to respond to an UNHCR appeal for assistance in the repatriation of 17 unaccompanied minors.
