G.S. 84
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XCRI(80)25
Recommendations
2 -
7
On the medical and health side, the Group recommend that special medical and health care should be given to refugee children under seven years of age, who are particularly vulnerable to disease. This is to be achieved through detailed medical examinations of young children soon after arrival, and through a systematic immunisation programme. Outpatient clinic facilities in camps should also be improved with the further assistance of volunteer medical personnel from overseas arranged by voluntary agencies. These improvements are designed not only to ensure the health of the refugees but also to prevent Hong Kong's medical facilities from being unduly stretched.
8
Other recommendations include: a more generous allocation of living space in refugee camps to relieve overcrowding; better arrange➡ ments for streamlining; the administration of camps and for improving coordination of the provision of language training and social services to the refugees by voluntary agencies.
9
The more important of these recommendations have already been implemented, whilst others are being implemented as soon as practicable.
Comments on Allegations made by Journalist Mr Derek Mitland
10
The Group also looked into the allegations of maltreatment of refugees made by journalist Mr Derek Maitland and has firmly refuted these allegations. The Group has confirmed that there was never any question of the Government adopting a policy of deliberate deprivation towards the refugees: on the contrary, there has always been genuine concern at all levels for the refugees' well-being.
11
In the course of its enquiries, the Group has followed up the 29 specific allegations made by Mr Maitland and has concluded that 17 of them had no substance. In each of the other 12 cases, there was an element of truth in the allegation but the complainants had either not told the whole story or had misunderstood the true position.
12
The Group has also looked into 16 other allegations of ill- treatment or assault contained in the Prisons Department's records and has noted that, in the four cases in which the allegations were proved, disciplinary action had already been taken against the staff concerned. The Group concluded that there was no justification for asserting that a few isolated incidents such as these, which involved a minute proportion
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