+
HRE?
(C)
THERE WOULD BE RESENTMENT IN HONG KONG AT WHAT WOULD BE SEEN AS MORE FAVOURABLE TREATMENT FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES THAN FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA, PARTICULARLY ILLEGAL
IMMIGRANT CHILDREN.
29. THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION OF HONG KONG MAKING ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN CONDITIONS IN CLOSED CENTRES. BUT THE IMPROVEMENTS IN EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, ADULT EDUCATION AND SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WILL CONTINUE, SUBJECT TO FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS. IN PARTICULAR, EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO
PROVE THE EDUCATION PROVIDED FOR CHILDREN IN THE CLOSED CENTRES. ONE OF OUR MAIN PROBLEMS IS SHORTAGE OF SPACE FRO CLASSROOMS? THE POSSIBILITY OF USING EMPTY CLASSROOMS IN DISUSED SCHOOLS OUTSIDE THE CLOSED CENTRES IS BEING EXAMINED. IF ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN TO ATTEND CLASSES IN SUCH CLASSROOMS, AN ADDED ADVANTAGE WILL BE THAT THEY WILL GAIN MORE EXPERIENCE OF LIFE
OUTSIDE THE CAMPS.
PUBLIC REACTION
30. PUBLIC REACTION IN HONG KONG IS UNLIKELY TO BE CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR CONTINUING WITH THE PRESENT CLOSED CENTRE POLICY. BUT CRITICISM FROM SOME ORGANISATIONS IN HONG KONG AND OVERSEAS WILL NO DOUBT CONTINUE. THE PUBLIC IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY AWARE OF HKG'S RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER.
31. MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO NOTE THAT:
ENDS
(A) GIVEN THE PRESSING NEED TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO DETER ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE WITH ITS PRESENT CLOSED CENTRE POLICY: AND
(B)
VIGOROUS APPROACHES WILL CONTINUE TO BE MADE TO HMG TO SEEK A RENEWED OFFTAKE OF REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG OR A DETERMINED APPROACH TO THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES TO STEM THE OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM.''
AKERS-JONES
HML NAN 6668
BOAT PEOPLE
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
WED
UND
FED
NEWS D
MAED
PS
PS/MR RENTON PS/MR EGGAR MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
MR WILSON
MR BRAITHWAITE
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
BOAT PEOPLE
8.
CONFIDENTIAL
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