CONFIDENTIAL
CONSEQUENCES OF THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY
7. Effect on arrivals
The policy has be en
successful in its
its aims in that
it appears to
1983 arrivals
have helped to reduce the number of refugee arrivals:
were 53% down on 1982, 1984 were 39% down on 1983, (compared with
reductions of 36% in 1983, and 11% in 1984 in the South East Asian
region as a whole). Against this success mus t be offset the following negative points:
(a) Social/psychological consequences
Average length of stay in the closed centres is 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. Such manifestations seem
certain to increase and worsen unless prospects for resettlement 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 be improved. Some of these have been
been implemented.
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
detention
prison-like conditions for prolonged periods of time, in accordance
with a policy of so-called humane deterrence"
with the principles of international protection".
(c) Hong Kong Public Opinion
to be "at variance
There is strong public support for the closed centre policy in Hong Kong. Many people feel that the Hong Kong Government's treatment of Vietname s e refugees is too generous, especially when compared to
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