GPS 410
CONFIDENTIAL
(178)
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 26095OZ AUG 82
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 935 OF 26 AUGUST
INFO HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON
753
YOURTELNO 570 OF 23 JULY.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : CLOSED CAMPS.
HKK
No
CSE
3/9
SIR PATRICK WALL'S PQ ON 26 JULY ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN CLOSED CAMPS,
AND MR RIFKIND'S REPLY, DID BRIEFLY ENCOURAGE SPECULATION THAT
HONG KONG'S POLICY MAY CONTRAVENE HUMAN RIGHTS AND MAY THEREFORE
REQUIRE AMENDMENT. SIR PATRICK AMPLIFIED HIS VIEWS IN A
TELEPHONE CALL TO A HK RADIO PROGRAMME ON 30 JULY.
2. WE HAVE ANSWERED SUCH SPECULATION BY EMPHASISING THAT:
A(A) WE DO NOT CONSIDER OUR LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE FURTHER
CLARIFICATION FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT'
(B) RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS WERE FULLY TAKEN INTO
ACCOUNT WHEN LEGISLATION WAS DRAFTED.
(C) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVISED POLICY IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED
AND CHANGES WILL BE CONSIDERED AS NECESSARY.
3. WE CONTINUE TO HOLD THIS LINE, THOUGH THERE IS NO LONGER
ANY MEDIA INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT. PUBLIC OPINION IS IN FAVOUR
OF MAINTAINING THE PRESENT POLICY TOWARDS REFUGEES, OR VEN
STRENGTHENING IT. PERSONS ARRIVING FROM VIETNAM ARE IN LEGAL
TERMS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO SEEK TO ENTER HK WATERS AFTER DUE
WARNING THAT THEY WILL BE DETAINED IF THEY DO SO. IN THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF A PROCEDURE
FOR THE COURTS TO REVIEW THE MERITS OF DETENTION WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE.
4. THE LOCAL UNHCR OFFICE WAS CONSULTED ON CLOSED CAMP CONDITIONS
BEFORE THEIR INTRODUCTION, AND UNHCR REPRESENTATIVES HAVE VISITED
ALL CAMPS AND HAVE CLOSELY MONITORED CONDITIONS. THEY HAVE
EXPRESSED THEIR SATISFACTION AT THE WAY THEY ARE BEING MANAGED
AND THEY WILL BE MAINTAINING A REGULAR PRESENCE IN THE CAMPS
FOR SCREENING AND DOCUMENTATION PURPOSES.
5. I SHALL BE REPORTING SEPARATELY ON THE SITUATION SINCE CLOSED
CAMPS WERE INTRODUCED. ARRIVALS IN JULY WERE 1,613, THE HIGHEST MONTHLY ARRIVAL FIGURE SINCE JULY 1979, AND NEARLY 50 PER CENT OF TOTAL ARRIVALS IN THE REGION. SO FAR NEARLY 1,000 HAVE ARRIVED IN AUGUST. THIS INFLOW IS MAKING HEAVY DEMANDS ON
SECURE ACCOMMODATION.
YOUDE
MINIMAL
HK & GD
24311
COPIES TO
MR BURROWS
LEGAL ADVISERS
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE, LONDON
CONFIDENTIAL
AP319
ASIE DE CERSANIT KE TENERA M
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