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.