FOR THE SALVATION ARMY, DISMISSED BY THE ORGANISATION, HAS WAGED A ONE-WOMAN CAMPAIGN IN NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA AND THE UK CONDEMNING
THE CLOSED CENTRES. EARLY THIS YEAR, A REPORT PREPARED BY LORD
CHITNIS, THE CHAIRMAN OF REFUGEE ACTION (A VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION
DEALING WITH THE RESETTLEMENT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN THE UNITED
KINGDOM), ATTACKED THE POLICY AND CONDITIONS IN THE CLOSED CENTRES.
LATER IN THE YEAR, OXFAM PUBLISHED A REPORT WHICH, IN A MUCH
MILDER MANNER, CONTINUED THE CRITICISM.
22. IN ALL OF THESE REPORTS THE 'PRISON-LIKE' ATMOSPHERE OF THE
CLUSED CENTRES, THE ROLE OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENET AND THE LIVING, WORKING AND EDUCATION CONDITIONS FORMED THE MAJOR
PART OF THE CRITICISM. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN PROPOSALS FOR SELF-
MANAGEMENT OF CLOSED CENTRES BY THE REFUGEES THEMSELVES AND FOR SOME
FORM OF PAROLE, PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN, FROM A CLOSED CENTRE TO
AN OPEN CENTRE AFTER FIVE, SIX OR SEVEN YEARS. A SUMMARY OF
OXFAM'S MAIN POINTS IS AT ANNEX C. ALL OF THE MATERIAL IMPROVEMENTS
WHICH IT RECOMMENDS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED OR ARE BEING INTRODUCED,
TO THE EXTENT THAT SPACE AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT ALLOW.
COST OF THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY
23. APART FROM THE COST IN TERMS OF HONG KONG'S REPUTATION SET OUT IN THE PARAGRAPHS ABOVE, THE CLOSED CENTRES CONSTITUTE A
CONSIDERABLE DRAIN ON HONG KONG'S FINANCIAL RESOURCES. SINCE THEY
WERE INTRODUCED IN JULY 1982 APPROXIMATELY 250 MILLION DOLLARS
HAS BEEN SPENT ON THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF REFUGEES IN CLOSED
CENTRES. LESS THAN 15 PERCENT OF THIS EXPENDITURE HAS BEEN BORNE
BY THE UNHCR AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES. IN FY 1985/86 ALONE
EXPENDITURE ON CLOSED CENTRES WAS MORE THAN 64 MILLION DOLLARS (IF ON COST, SALARY BENEFITS AND ACCOMMODATION WERE INCLUDED, THE TOTAL WOULD BE 90 MILLION DOLLARS), WITH 53 MILLION DOLLARS (83 PERCENT) COMING FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. THESE FIGURES DO NOT TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT THE OPPORTUNITY COST OF THE LAND PRESENTLY USED AT
HEI LING CHAI, CHI MA WAN AND TUEN MUN FOR CLOSED CENTRES.
24. OTHER PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM PAY VERY LITTLE TOWARDS THE UPKEEP
OF THEIR REFUGEES. THEY LOOK TO THE UNHCR TO MEET THE MAJOR PART
OF THE COST AND TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CAMPS (IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE UNHCR CONTRIBUTES MORE THAN HALF THE
COST OF MAINTINING THE TWO OPEN CENTRES IN HONG KONG AND IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT).
FURTHER ACTION
25. TO SUMMARISE THE FOREGOING PARAGRAPHS, THE PROBLEMS FACING
HONG KONG ARE:
(A) RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS ARE REDUCING PARTLY BECAUSE FEWER REFUGEES ARE QUALIFYING AGAINST THE CRITERIA THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES INSIST ON APPLYING TO DETERMINE WHICH REFUGEES THEY WILL ACCEPT AND PARTLY BECAUSE THESE COUNTRIES ARE INCREASINGLY
CONFIDENTIAL
/COMING