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CONSEQUENCES OF THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY
7.
Effect on arrivals
The policy has been
have helped to
to reduce
successful in its aims in that
the number of refugee arrivals:
it appears to
1983 arrivals
were 53% down on 1982, 1984 were 39% down on 1983, (compared with
reductions of 36% in 1983, and 11% in 1984
region as
a whole).
following negative points:
(a)
in the South East Asian
Against this success
Social/psychological consequences
Average length of stay in the closed centres
must be offset the
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, 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
policy and have made suggestions as to how the
centres might be improved. Some of these have been implemented.
is
appear to regard the centres as a there no prospect of the Hong
while boat people continue to
centres, have stated
of refugees "under
The BRC, while remaining critical, necessary evil, and recognise that
Kong Government abandoning them
arrive. UNHCR, although they help finance the
publicly that they consider the
prison-like conditions for prolonged periods of time, in accordance
detention
with a policy of so-called humane deterrence"
with the principles of international protection".
(c) Hong Kong Public Opinion
There
is
Kong.
to be "at variance
treatment of
strong public support for the closed centre policy in Hong
Many people feel that the Hong Kong Government's
refugees is too generous, especially when
Vietnamese
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compared to