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.