Refugee unable to move

Press, 16 May 1985, Page 5

Refugee unable to move

An elderly Vietnamese refugee whose Chester Street flat has been hit by five arson attacks may have to remain at the flat for some time yet. Mrs Chau Luc Muoi, aged 82, has been frightened by the apparently racist attacks, and wants to go to live with her grand-daugh-ter’s family, but Mrs Muoi’s family does not have room for her, and they are having difficulty obtaining Housing Corporation approval for a larger, four-bedroom State house.

Mr Ken Lau, Mrs Muoi’s granddaughter’s husband, said last evening that Housing Corporation staff had told him there were no fourbedroom State houses available at present. Mr and Mrs Lau had previously obtained approval for a three-bed-room house. Mr Lau said he had also applied for a pensioner flat for Mrs Muoi, although there could be a six-month delay before she could obtain one.

Mrs Muoi does not speak any English, although she has a Vietnamese boarder

who speaks some English. Messages telling her to “move or die” have been scrawled on her windows, and attempts have been made to burn her front and back doors down. “Most of the time she is alone. She does not dare go out of her flat,” said Mr Lau. Mrs Muoi’s landlord had promised not to evict her, he said.

The police have made intensive inquiries to try to trace the arsonists, but no arrest has been made.