§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list by detention centre in Hong Kong, the number of Vietnamese boat people held, on the latest date for which he has figures.
§ Mr. MaudeAs at 17 May 1990, there are 11 detention centres in Hong Kong with a total population of 43,974.
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Centre Population Green Island 299 Hei Ling Chau 3,290 Chi Ma Wan 1,878 Whitehead 22,185 Cape Collinson 323 Argyle Street 1,495 High Island 6,815 Lowu 399 Shek Kong 5,295 Nei Kwu 627
Centre Population Shek Kwu Chau 999 Victoria Prison and other Institutions 369
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement in respect of the attempted escape by Vietnamese boat people at the Whitehead detention centre in Hong Kong on 3 May.
§ Mr. MaudeDuring the early hours of 29 April, 102 Vietnamese boat people, some armed, escaped from the Whitehead detention centre in a well-planned breakout. Five people were apprehended almost immediately and 39 were arrested within 24 hours of the escape. The police have continued to make arrests but a total of 56 people are still missing. On 4 May, police officers and correctional services staff conducted a large scale search of the Whitehead detention centre to find and remove dangerous weapons. More than 2,500 weapons were removed from the centre and 187 people moved to other institutions. The search took place against a background of intimidation by gangs of other boat people, assaults on staff, armed escapes and the widespread possession of offensive weapons. These are serious offences which could not be ignored. The Hong Kong Government are determined to maintain the rule of law inside the detention centres and searches at the centres will continue.