DOES THE FCO REALLY BELIEVE THAT CLOSED CAMPS
HAVE A DETERRENT EFFECT?
CLOSED CENTRES INTRODUCED JULY 1982. IN 1981, BEFORE THE
START OF THE POLICY, HONG KONG ARRIVALS INCREASED BY 25% OVER
1980 LEVELS, WHEREAS THOSE FOR THE REGION AS A WHOLE INCREASED
BY ONLY 5%. IN 1982, HONG KONG ARRIVALS WENT DOWN BY ONLY 7%.
COMPARED WITH A REGIONAL DECLINE OF 41%. IN 1983, HOWEVER,
BY WHICH TIME THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY WAS WELL ESTABLISHED AND
WIDELY KNOWN ABOUT IN VIETNAM, HONG KONG ARRIVALS WERE 53%
LESS THAN THOSE FOR 1982, COMPARED WITH A REGIONAL DECLINE OF
36%. IN 1984 THE HONG KONG DECREASE WAS 39%, AND THAT FOR THE
REGION ONLY 11%. NOT ABSOLUTE PROOF BUT SUGGESTS POLICY IS
HAVING SOME EFFECT.
QUESTIONS ON UNHCR CRITICISMS OF POLICY
AWARE THAT UNHCR HAS CRITICISED POLICIES OF HUMANE
DETERRENCE" UNDER WHICH REFUGEES ARE DETAINED FOR PROLONGED
PERIODS. HMG AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHARED DISTASTE FOR SUCH
MEASURES. INTRODUCED RELUCTANTLY. NECESSARY EVIL. WE OF COURSE
LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN THE FLOW OF ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM
REDUCES AND THE LEVEL OF RESETTLEMENT INCREASES TO AN EXTENT
THAT ENABLES THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO RELAX THE POLICY.
CLOSED CENTRES RUN IN CO-OPERATION WITH UNHCR WHO CURRENTLY
PAY ONE THIRD OF ANNUAL CASH EXPENDITURE,(HK$ 20 MILLION OUT OF
A TOTAL OF HK$ 60 MILLION IN 1984).
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THE FIGURE FOR THE TOTAL
COST TO HK WAS HK$ 110 MILLION (UNHCR ALSO PROVIDE CENTRAL
SERVICES AND HAVE RECRUITED AN EDUCATIONAL CO-ORDINATOR FOR THE
CLOSED CENTRES).