Latest ship also from
Fujian WebPosted Tue Aug 31 21:20:26 1999
VICTORIA, B.C. - Another boatload of
would-be immigrants were rescued from their decrepit ship off the
coast of Vancouver Island on Tuesday. "The occupants of the vessel
all appear to be of Chinese origin. We believe they are from Fujian
province," said Department of Immigration spokesman George Varnai.
 The rusting
boat | It is the largest of three
shiploads of immigrants to arrive off the British Columbia coast in
the past two months. Immigration officials say they're still not
sure exactly how many people were onboard the ship, but they
estimate there are about 190.
The occupants of the other ships were also from Fujian.
The most recent arrivals had to be plucked from the crammed,
rusting, unseaworthy vessel, by three Canadian ships. "It was
considered to be a vessel that could not carry on its own steam, or
even with assistance, to port," said Varnai.
The ship was spotted on Monday afternoon by a Canadian Forces
Aurora long-range patrol aircraft. Authorities immediately launched
the rescue plan which has been used twice before this summer.
School buses have been rushed to the community of Gold River, on
Vancouver Island, where they will await the arrival of the migrants.
From there the people will be transported, once again, to Canadian
Forces Base Esquimalt, near Victoria, for processing.
The discovery of yet another ship suspected of smuggling a human
cargo has set off new alarm bells. Some are criticizing the
authorities for not keeping a better watch and diverting the
smugglers' ships before they can enter Canadian waters.
But Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan says the most recent
arrivals - like those before them - are entitled to the normal
immigration process.
Reform MP John Reynolds says he believes even more boats filled
with Chinese immigrants are heading for the West Coast. He says
Canada should sit down with China to discuss the problem - and make
it clear there will be problems with trade between the two countries
unless the smuggling stops.
The first ship, discovered near Gold River on July 20, had 123
Chinese nationals onboard. Each one claimed refugee status.
The second ship carried 131 people. It dumped its human cargo on
the shores of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Seventy-four of those
migrants are having their refugee claims assessed. The other 57 face
possible deportation.
Immigration officials say the people rescued on Tuesday spent 72
days at sea, jammed into a ship that was "a fairly small boat
compared with the number of people it was carrying."
Most of the passengers were in relatively good condition. Several
were reported to be suffering from mild hypothermia and dehydration.
One passenger was suffering from severe abdominal pain.
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