ARGYLE STREET RECEPTION CENTRE
The Argyle Street Reception Centre was formerly part of an army barracks and supplies depot. It is situated at the corner of Argyle Street and Lomond Road, behind St. Teresa's Hospital. The entrance to the centre is in Argyle Street, directly opposite the Kowloon City Folice Station. was first brought into use as a Detention Centre for Vietnamese refugees on 28 May 1979.
2.
It
The centre is managed by Correctional Services Department personnel on secondment to Security Branch, Government Secretariat, under the command of a Superintendent of Correctional Services, who is responsible for the overall management and control of the centre.
Purpose of the Centre
3.
To facilitate resettlement processing, the centre was brought into use as a Departure Centre in August 1979. A total of 33,275 refugees passed through its gates for resettlement to third countries between August 1979 and December 1982. This centre took on the additional function of a Reception Centre in June 1982 after the reopening of the Jubiley. Buildings as a Transit Centre for those refugees who left the Kai Tak Transit Centre after the disturbances there in May 1982.
4
The current functions of the centre are to accommodate all those
Vietnamese refugees who have been :-
(a) rescued at sea by ocean-going vessels (while they undergo
medical and immigration processing prior to departure to resettlement countries);
(b) transferred from Closed Centres for resettlement processing; (c) accepted for resettlement by other countries (those from
Open Jeatres, while they undergo medical and final resettlement processing prior to departure); and,
(d) accepted initially for resettlement by other countries, but who must undergo further medical examinations.
Categories (a) and (b) are not permitted to leave the centre. All refugees in categories (c) and (d) are permitted leave of absence daily from 8.30 a.m. to 10.C0 p.m. after due authorization by the centre management,
Medical Facilities
5.
A medical centre is operated daily from 9.00 a.1. to 5.00 p.m. by the "Save The Children Fund" : this is staffed by one state-registered nurse, assisted by staff of the Auxiliary Medical Service; a doctor attends daily. Refugees requiring emergency treatment or hospitalization are sent to queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Accommodation/Food
6.
Accommodation is provided in two "Romney" huts, one concrete structure, and five wooden structures. The centre can accommodate 2,000
/persons