Sir,
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DRAFT SPEECH BY HON MRS RITA FAN
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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15.5.85
Adjournment Debate on
The Vietnamese Refugee Problem in Hong Kong
Hong Kong accepts all the Vietnamese refugees who come here to seek asylum; no control is exercised over the number of influx. The resettlement of these refugees is totally at the discretion of the resettlement countries. This is an open-ended situation. With the large number of Vietnamese refugees arriving by boat and declining resettlement rate, the number of refugees in Hong Kong increased as well as their length of stay here. The VR problem in Hong Kong showed every promise of draining our limited resources to an unbearable extent. It became imperative that a way must be found to deter VRs from coming to Hong Kong. Hence, the closed camp policy. This policy has been effective in containing the problem. Before a solution to this problem is discovered, it would be impractical simply to abolish the closed camp policy. Moreover, it would not be in the best interest of Hong Kong people who have to shoulder the full responsibility and consequence of such a decision.
I appreciate that life in closed camps is
comparatively dull, as refugees cannot seek outside work or leave the camps at will. However, they do enjoy freedom of conscience and are free from political harassment. Their basic needs are well catered for and facilities in closed camps compare favourably with open camps, and in some aspects, even better than our people living in squatter and temporary housing areas. There are opportunities for education and training of skills for children and adults which will be useful to the
refugees when they are resettled. For those who wish to work, there are jobs in the camps. Although the salaries are much less than outside work, they can engage in meaningful and useful activities. Refugees in closed camps are treated in friendly and pleasant manners by the staff and volunteers.
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