§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people have been repatriated to Vietnam from Hong Kong in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe information requested is as follows:
Numbers 1989 874 1990 5,387 1991 7,747 1992 11,668 1993 12,751
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what compensation has been paid to Vietnamese boat people who lost possessions during the disturbance at the Whitehead detention centre, Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNo compensation has been paid to Vietnamese migrants who claim that they lost possessions during the operation carried out in the Whitehead detention centre in Hong Kong on 7 April. The question of civil liability and damages, if any, will be considered only if and when any claims are received and will be determined by the courts of Hong Kong.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total number of 131W police and security forces that were used to quell the disturbances at the Whitehead Vietnamese detention centre, Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydA total of 1,349 police and Correctional Services Department officers were involved in the operation which took place in the Whitehead detention centre on 7 April. The Governor of Hong Kong ordered an independent inquiry into the operation which concluded that the Correctional Services Department had acted correctly in deploying such a large contingent.