The World : Viet Refugees Flee Cholera

Hong Kong’s government removed 2,500 Vietnamese “boat people” from the outlying island of Tai A Chau after an outbreak of cholera and moved them to a nearby island that once served as a leper colony, officials reported. Another 2,000 Vietnamese living in tents on Tai A Chau will be evacuated to Heiling Chau island today, the officials said. Last month, a dispute over distribution of rice touched off a riot on Tai A Chau. Shortly afterward, the first case of cholera was detected, and the disease has so far stricken 21 Vietnamese, officials said. They said Tai A Chau will be used as a detention center again, once it has been cleaned up and huts are built there.