CONFIDENTIAL
CONSEQUENCES OF THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY
Effect on arrivals
1.
The policy has been
successful in its aims in that
have helped to reduce the number of refugee arrivals:
were 53% down on 1982, 1984 were 39% down on 1983,
reductions of 36% in 1983, and 11% in 1984
region as
a whole).
following negative points:
Against this
(a) Social/psychological consequences
Average length of stay in the closed
in
success
it appears
to
1983 arrivals
(compared with
the South East Asian
must be offset the
centres i s now 17 months;
longest stayers have been there 2 years. There is growing concern
that the confinement is making refugees more difficult to settle
elsewhere and prone to violence. There have been sporadic outbreaks
of violence and a 3 day hunger strike.
certain to
increase
improve markedly.
and worsen
(b) Western Public Opinion
Such manifestations seem
unless prospects for resettlement
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 be improved. Some of these have been implemented.
policy
The BRC, while remaining critical, appear to regard the centres as a necessary evil, and recognise that there is no prospect of the Hong
Kong Government abandoning them while boat people continue to
arrive. UNHCR, although they help finance the centres, have stated
publicly that they consider the
of refugees "under
prison-like conditions for prolonged periods of time, in accordance
with a policy of so-called humane
detention
deterrence"
with the principles of international protection".
(c) Hong Kong Public Opinion
There
Kong.
i s
to be "at variance
strong public support for the closed centre policy in Hong
Many people feel that the Hong Kong Government's treatment of
refugees is too generous,
compared
Vietnamese
especially when
to
CONFIDENTIAL