17 alleged fleeing Vietnamese tourists in Taiwan detained for investigation

 

Hanoi (VNA) –Authorities of Taiwan (China) temporarily detained 17 out of 152 Vietnamese tourists suspected of fleeing in the territory for investigation by December 28 noon, according to the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei.

On December 28, the office asked the Taiwanese side, during the investigation and handling process, to ensure the safety and personal honour of the detained in the humane spirit and satisfactorily handle the case in line with law.

The local competent agencies should promptly inform the office about the situation of the detainees and developments related to the case for coordination in dealing with, while creating conditions for the office to pay consular visits to those arrested.

The Taiwanese side said they will halt online visa granting for tourist groups under the “Kuan Hung Pilot Project,” an electronic visa programme designed to increase the number of quality tourist groups from the ASEAN member states of Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, plus India. They will apply measures to closely control delegations of tourists while entering Taiwan via local airports if unusual signs are found.

The relevant units of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei will continue to closely work with domestic authorised agencies and the Taiwanese side to address the case.

According to initial information, the Ho Chi Minh City-based International Holidays Trading Travel Co. Ltd received this group of tourists from a Taiwanese partner to help them get tourist visas.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said tourism activities and the eased visa policy for tourists in some countries and territories have been abused for the purpose of illegal working. It doesn’t rule out the possibility that some organisations and individuals have taken advantage of this policy to set up rings illegally sending Vietnamese overseas.-VNA