Some Chinese migrants transferred to Prince George jail

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Some Chinese migrants transferred to Prince George jail

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. (CP) - A planeload of illegal Chinese migrants arrived at this central B.C. city Thursday to be held at a mothballed provincial jail.

The 157 migrants were in handcuffs as they came off a chartered plane from CFB Esquimalt on Vancouver Island and were transferred to police buses. The old jail will be their home for the next six or eight months, while their eligibility to stay in Canada is decided, said jail director Bob Riches.

Riches said the Chinese will be treated the same as other inmates and will be fed the same diet except rice will be substituted for potatoes or starches.

The 45-year-old Prince George jail, which holds about 200 people, ceased operations in 1996 though it was used briefly for inmates in 1997. It is on the same grounds as a new regional correctional centre.

Immigration officials wanted to clear the migrants out of CFB Esquimalt in case any new boats arrive off the B.C. coast.

They said the Victoria-area base was never intended to be a long-term detention centre.

Since July, four decrepit vessels carrying a total of 599 migrants - men, women and children - from Fujian province in China have arrived off British Columbia's coast. Federal officials say at least another two boatloads eluded coastal surveillance.

Only one person from the 599 has so far reached the Immigration and Refugee Board stage, which resulted in a rejection.

All migrants from the first boat are expected to have their fate determined by Christmas; the second boat by March. Appeals could follow the decisions.

It will likely be next summer before all the current migrants are either granted refugee status or rejected.

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