35
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 2908OOZ FCO
TELNO 1240
OF 29034OZ MARCH 88
UNCLASSIFIED
HUD 243/4
9 MAR 1988
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES REPORT BY MS CLARE HANBURY
030014
MDHIAN 3856
MS HANBURY, A TEACHER AT CHIA MA WAN CLOSED CENTRE, HAS PRODUCED A REPORT CALLED (QUOTE) VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG'S CLOSED CENTRES AN OVERVIEW (UNQUOTE). SHE WILL BE IN THE UK FROM TODAY (29 MARCH) TO 8 APRIL AND IS INTENDING TO PRESENT HER REPORT TO MPS, LORD GLENARTHUR, PRINCESS ANNE AND THE PRESS. TEXT OF THE MAIN BODY OF THE REPORT FOLLOWS BY FAX.
2. THE REPORT, ACCORDING TO MS HANBURY (QUOTE) ATTEMPTS TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM AREAS SO THAT THERE IS A STRATING POINT FROM WHICH SHORT TERM CHANGES CAN BE MADE WHILE LONG TERM SOLUTIONS ARE SOUGHT (UNQUOTE). SHE HAS SAID HER AIM IS NOT (NOT) TO BE CRITICAL, BUT TO SUGGEST SHORT TERM IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDITIONS AND TREATMENT OF REFUGEES. SHE FOCUSSES IN PARTICULAR ON RESETTLEMENT INTERVIEWING PROCEDURES AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL AND WORK PROGRAMMES.
3. THE REPORT CONTAINS SOME FACTUAL INACCURACIES, NOTABLY IN THE
SECTIONS ON HYGIENE, HEALTH AND FOOD. THERE IS NO (NO) SHORTAGE OF FRRSH VEGETABLES AND THERE ARE NO (NO) SERIOUS HEALTH AND
HYGIENE PROBLEMS BEYOND THE PRESSURES OF OVERCROWDING WHICH IN FACT AFFECT CHI MA WAN CLOSED CENTRE LESS (UNDERLINED) THAT THE OTHER CAMPS. MOREOVER CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG CAMPS BEAR FAVOURABLE COMPARISON, WITH THOSE ANYWHERE IN THE REGION.
4. WE PROPOSE TO TAKE THE LINE THAT MS HANBURY'S REPORT CONTAINS SOME INTERESTING SUGGESTIONS FOR ACTION IN HONG KONG WHICH WILL BE, INDEED LARGELY ARE BEING, CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSALS REGARDING EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND WORK PROGRAMMES FOR REFUGEES IN THE CLOSED CENTRES. WE SHALL ALSO LOOK INTO SPECIFIC POINTS OF CRITICISM ABOUT CONDITIONS IN THE CAMPS AND THE TREATMENT OF REFUGEES.
WILSON
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