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Most Chinese boat people released
TERRI THEODORE
VANCOUVER (CP) - Eight-six of the 123
Chinese migrants who arrived off the West Coast in a decrepit
ship last month were released Wednesday while their refugee
claims are processed.
The remaining 37 still haven't proved their
identities to the satisfaction of adjudicators from the
refugee board, or are suspected of being part of the human
smuggling ring that set up the journey.
The 28 men and eight women still in custody
are being held in Vancouver, said Immigration spokesman Rob
Johnston.
After 38 days on a filthy, unsafe boat, the remaining
refugee claimants now face a longer journey as their claims go
through the bureaucracy.
"There's agencies they're dealing with now to help support
them in Canada until they're completed with the refugee-claim
process," Johnston said.
An official with one of those groups, Jean McRae of the
Inter-Cultural Association, said the Chinese migrants are
relieved to be out of detention after spending almost two
weeks at a Victoria-area military base.
"They are, I think, quite apprehensive about the process
that they're going through and what lies before them," she
said. "We're trying to reassure them."
The refugee claimants are eligible for a provincial
government hardship allowance, as well as other social
assistance, McRae said. They will also be applying for work
permits, she said.
Reform's immigration critic remained skeptical about
whether the newcomers will stick around for their refugee
hearings.
Leon Benoit said government figures indicate almost half
the claimants arriving from China in the past have
disappeared, many heading for the United States.
He urged newly appointed Immigration Minister Eleanor
Caplan to overhaul the system, getting tougher on smugglers
and sending back illegal arrivals promptly.
Johnston said the refugee claimants were released on
condition they report to immigration officials regularly.
"We will be closely following each case and if people
violate terms and conditions we will be issuing Canada-wide
warrants for their arrest," he said.
© The Canadian Press, 1999
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