The Hong Kong government deported 83 Vietnamese living in Hong Kong without legal permission on Tuesday. The illegal immigrants – 38 males and 45 females – were deported on a chartered flight to Hanoi, according to a government release.
It was understood that 45 of the group were unsuccessful refugee claimants. It was the third time the government chartered a flight to send illegal Vietnamese home, Oriental Daily reported.
As of Tuesday, a total of 1,193 illegal Vietnamese immigrants had been repatriated by the Immigration Department this year, representing a 17% increase compared with the corresponding period in 2017.
Depending on the circumstances and needs, the Immigration Department will continue to consider removing illegal immigrants from Hong Kong as soon as possible by chartered flight or through other appropriate measures.
The two deportations took place in December last year and February this year with 108 Vietnamese being sent home. Half were asylum seekers.