1
In
24. In 1992, 12,000 Vietnamese migrants returned home
voluntarily under the voluntary repatriation programme. the first nine months of 1993, nearly 7,000 have returned to Vietnam. A further 4,000 are awaiting return. Every effort
has been made and will continue to be made by the Hong Kong Government and the UNHCR to encourage all remaining screened out migrants to return home under the voluntary repatriation
programme.
CONDITIONS OF DETENTION
25. Detention centres are managed by the Correctional Services Department, the Police and Civil Aid Services of the Hong Kong Government in as humane a manner as possible. Vietnamese asylum seekers are not criminals and are therefore not treated as prisoners. They are allowed considerable freedom provided that they do not breach the detention centre rules which are drawn up having regard to the provisions of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights which in turn is based on the United Nations Convention on Civil and Political Rights.
Vietnamese asylum seekers have access to lawyers, non-government organisation (NGO) workers who provide services in the camps and UNHCR field officers. They are also allowed
to have visitors. In addition, there are regular visits by
Justices of Peace, Members of Parliament, US Congressmen, Legislative Councillors and journalists. Furthermore, a wide
range of social, medical and education services are provided
by no fewer than nine non-government organisations.
The camps are crowded but so is Hong Kong and many local people live in
far more cramped and harsher conditions.
26. The Hong Kong Government has a duty to the Vietnamese
migrants in detention. All the Government departments involved seek to discharge that duty to the best of their ability and will continue to do so. The Hong Kong Government
seeks to maintain law and order in all detention centres.
Sadly, some of the Vietnamese migrants are involved in
Arb.Det