CONFIDENTIAL
Lord Chitnis asked an Unstarred
Question (ie initiating a mini-debate) in the Lords in May. Wherever possible recommendations for improvements of conditions have been implemented by the HKG.
UNHCR Attitude
3.
them.
UNHCR has been opposed to Hong Kong's closed camps since their inception, but has generally been discreet in public comments on
When he visited Hong Kong last year the then High
Commissioner (Mr Hartling) compared the situation of the children at
the Bowring Camp favourably with that of children in other closed
camps in the region (where refugees are not nearly so well cared
for). UNHCR have full access to those living in the closed camps
(as do representatives of all actual and potential resettlement
countries), and UNHCR also help to fund the camps' running costs.
The Note of 19 August does not name Hong Kong (or any other place of
first asylum), and many of its observations are not apparently directed at Hong Kong.
4. Many of the conclusions in the Note are based on provisions of
the 1951 Convention relating to the
the Status of Refugees. Although
HMG has ratified this Convention, it has never been extended to Hong
Kong in view of the territory's continuing vulnerability to massive
illegal immigration into Hong Kong from China.
CONFIDENTIAL