Manila to free 51 Chinese

Manila to free 51 Chinese

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines (Reuter): The Philippines said yesterday that 51 Chinese held in a fishing boat since arriving three months ago will be allowed to sail to Australia.

Charges of illegal entry against the group, which includes more than dozen children, have been dropped, provincial officials on the southwestern island of Palawan said.

The group was arrested in July when their boat drifted near Palawan.

The Chinese, who said they fled Guangdong province in south China after typhoons destroyed their crops, will be ferried out to sea so they can continue to Australia, the officials said.

China's embassy in Manila had asked about the status of the Chinese but has not offered to support or help repatriate them, coast guard Capt. Robert Garcia said.

"They're stateless persons," he said, adding the Chinese do not have identification cards.