Boat People Fire Toll Grows to 23

The death toll from an arson attack at a Hong Kong camp for Vietnamese boat people rose to 23 with the death of an 18-year-old man in a hospital, a government spokeswoman said Sunday.

Twenty-two northern Vietnamese were burned to death at the Shek Kong camp Tuesday after a rival gang of southerners pushed burning blankets through windows and under the roof of their hut.

The 18-year-old died Saturday, the spokeswoman said. Two other boat people are still in critical condition.

Ninety-two Vietnamese, most of them southerners, appeared in court Friday charged with the rioting that led to the deaths. No plea was taken, and the case was adjourned until Wednesday pending further inquiries.