4
Accommodation
16. To deter refugees from coming to Hong Kong, closed centres were introduced on 2 July 1982 in the face of the continuing high rate of arrivals and diminishing resettlement opportunities. New arrivals are now detained in closed centres (the main ones are at Chi Ma Wan, Hei Ling Chau and Tuen Mun) where they are not allowed to find outside work and restricted to the closed centres. Visits are limited to relatives and close friends. Those who arrived before 2 July 1982 are in UNHCR Open Centre. The distribution on 1 February 1988 was:
Refugee Open Centres
2 947
UNHCR Kai Tak Transit Centre (HK Christian Aid to Refugees)
Argyle Street Reception Centre (HK Government)
2 931
16
Refugee Closed Centres
6 826
Chi Ma Wan Closed Centre (Upper and Lower)
1 846
Hei Ling Chau Closed Centre
Tuen Mun Closed Centre
Victoria Prison
2.805
1 776
29
Argyle Street Reception Centre
370
Employment
17. Adults in UNHCR Open Centre are permitted to take up temporary employment to support themselves and their families. They are paid at the same rate as Hong Kong workers. Because the refugees in Open Centre can work, they do not require assistance in the form of food allowance from the UNHCR. The cost of their upkeep is lower than elsewhere in the region. However, the UNHCR is responsible for the management of the centre and contributes significantly towards the cost of their upkeep.
Financial Cost to Hong Kong
18. Since 1979, the total cost to the Government of establishing and running refugee centres, and feeding and transporting refugees has been $793.9 million (US$101.8 m). This figure includes staff costs, administrative overheads, the costs of purchase, lease or construction of facilities, assessed rental value of land and other properties made available for the use of refugees. The major voluntary agencies in Hong Kong, who employ over 400 workers, have also spent about $84.3 million (US$10.8 m) on providing services to the refugees. Since 1979 the local UNHCR office (which at present enjoys free office accommodation from the Government) has spent a total of HK$344.1 million (US$44.1 m) on refugees. In 1986/87, the total cost of caring for Vietnamese refugees in both open and closed centres was $160.1 million (US$20.5 m); the Hong Kong government contributed $122.7 million (US$15.7 m); the UNHCR contributed $29.6 million (US$3.8 m); and the voluntary agencies contributed $7.8 million (US$1 m).