CONFIDENTIAL
CONSEQUENCES OF THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY
7. Effect on arrivals
The policy has been
successful in its aims
in that
it appears ti
1983 arrival
have helped to reduce the number of refugee arrivals:
were 53% down on 1982, 1984 were 39% down on 1983, (compared wit}
of 36% in 1983, and 11% in 1984
in
the South East Asi ar
a whole). Against this success must be offset the
reductions
region as
following negative points:
(a) Social/psychological consequences
is now 17 months;
Average length of stay in the closed ceatres
longest stayers have been there 21 years. There is growing concerr
that the confinement i s making refugees more difficult to settle
elsewhere and prone to violence. There have been sporadic outbreak si
of violence and a 3 day hunger strike. Such manifestations seex
and
worsen unless prospects for resettlement
certain to
increase
improve markedly.
(b) Western Public Opinion
Although there has been a perhaps surprising level of understanding
of what is undoubtedly a distasteful policy, it has been criticised
by some British MPs and journalists visiting Hong Kong. The British
Refugee Council, the main UK body concerned with refugee questions
have examined the policy and have made suggestions as to how the
centres might 52 improvel. Some of
these have been implemented.
The BRC, while remaining critical, appear to regard the centres as a
necessary evil, and recognise that there i s по prospect of the Hong
Kong Government abandoning them while boat people continue tc
arrive. UNHCR, although they help finance the centres, have stated
of refugees "under
time, in accordance
consider the
detention
publicly that they
prison-like conditions for prolonged periods of
with a
So policy of
-
called
humane
deterrence"
to be "at variance
with the principles of international protection".
(c) Hong Kong Public Opinion
There is strong public support for the closed centre policy in Hong
Many people feel that the Hong Kong Government's treatment of
Vietname se refugees is
especially when compared
Kong.
too
generous,
tc
CONFIDENTIAL