SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
ANNEX 25.
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1.
The closed camp policy has always been said to be a short-term policy imposed to deter arrivals, maintain security, and fulfil an internal political need. The first two reasons do not stand up to analysis. The third seems to punish the refugees for the situation of illegal immigrants from China, which is clearly not their fault. Therefore the closed camps really should cease to exist as soon as possible and at the least the British Government should state the exact circum- stances stances under which they would withdraw their support for such a policy.
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2. If the internal political conditions in Hong Kong really do not allow for the end of the closed camp policy, then the regime within the camps needs to change. At present, it is dehumanising and demor- alising. The CSD staff should be withdrawn to external security duty. The refugees, with the help of voluntary agencies, should take over the internal management. This should give back to the refugees some much-needed self-respect and prepare them for settlement in their country of permanent resettlement.
3.
The
The education programme for the children should relate more directly to the Hong Kong system, so that refugee children are not so excluded from normal life. We suggest the twinning of camp schools with Hong Kong schools and the taking of Hong Kong exams where appropriate. 4.The adult education programme should be expanded and made more profess- ional. The language provision could be improved, but a proper voca- tional training scheme is the urgent need, providing marketable skills for resettlement.
5.
6.
An alternative arrangement should be made for the pregnant women At who now have to stay in Victoria prison for up to 2 months. the least their stays should be shortened considerably
The British Government should respond more generously to the settlement needs of the refugees in Hong Kong. It should continue to accept 40 per month after the commitment to family reunions is fulfilled, giving consideration to refugees who will not be selected by other countries. Britain should review the cases of the 200 so-called 'refusals', as well as special needs categories such as the single elderly. This should be done in consultation with the Hong Kong Government and other settlement countries, in order to formulate a policy which will empty these camps well before 1997.