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HONG KONG'S CLOSED CENTRE POLICY
As I am sure you know, closed centre policy was introduced in July 1982 in an attempt to deter further boat people from setting out from Vietnam. The measure was forced on the Hong Kong Government by events: resettlement prospects for those in Hong Kong's camps were deteriorating, while refugees continued to
(although the arrival rate has declined) arrive. That is still the situation, and the Hong Kong Government can therefore see no alternative but to continue the
policy at present.
:
Legality of the Policy: Was it approved by UK Parliament? No. It was established by Hong Kong's Immigration (Amendment) 'Ordinance 1982. (The order was made by the Governor with advice
and consent of the Legislative Council, under powers conferred by the Letter Patent and Royal Instructions. It was then submitted to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who decided not to disallow it.)
Human Rights Aspects of Closed Centre Policy
We understand why some commentators should express concern on this score: but we regard the policy as a temporary a
and
regrettable necessity in the circumstances of Hong Kong.
If UK were to accept more refugees, should they come from closed or open camps?
We would not feel strongly about this: the main priority from our point of view is to set the ball rolling on resettlement and
encourage other countries to follow our lead. The Hong Kong Government might prefer the refugees to be taken from open camps, since (a) those refugees have been in Hong Kong longest, and
/(b)
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