2
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1980
OUTPATIENT CLINIC FACILITIES IN CAMPS SHOULD ALSO BE IMPROVED WITH THE FURTHER ASSISTANCE OF VOLUNTEER MEDICAL PERSONNEL FROM OVERSEAS ARRANGED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
FURTHERMORE, THE GROUP HAS RECOMMENDED A MORE GENEROUS ALLOCATION OF LIVING SPACE IN CAMPS TO RELIEVE OVERCROWDING.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE DESIGNED NOT ONLY TO ENSURE THE HEALTH OF THE REFUGEES BUT ALSO TO PREVENT HONG KONG'S MEDICAL FACILITIES FROM BEING UNDULY STRETCHED.
THR GROUP'S REPORT ALSO CONTAINS RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED AT STREAMLINING THE ADMINISTRATION OF CAMPS AND AT IMPROVING CO-ORDINATION OF THE PROVISION OF LANGUAGE TRAINING AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE REFUGEES BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
THE REPORT FIRMLY REFUTES ALLEGATIONS, PUBLISHED BOTH IN HONG KONG AND ABROAD LAST YEAR, THAT THE FACILITIES IN GOVERNMENT CAMPS WERE GROSSLY INADEQUATE AND THAT THE REFUGEES HAD SUFFERED CONSTANT ABUSE, ASSAULT AND VARIOUS ATROCITIES METED OUT BY CAMP OFFICIALS.
THE GROUP HAS FOLLOWED UP 29 SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS COLLECTED AND PUT TO THE GOVERNMENT BY JOURNALIST DEREK MAITLAND AND HAS CONCLUDED THAT 17 OF THEM HAD NO SUBSTANCE. IN EACH OF THE OTHER 12 CASES, THERE WAS AN ELEMENT OF TRUTH IN THE ALLEGATION BUT THE COMPLAINANT HAD EITHER NOT TOLD THE WHOLE STORY OR HAD MISUNDERSTOOD THE TRUE POSITION.
OF THE 29 SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS INVESTIGATED BY THE GROUP 11 CONCERNED ILL-TREATMENT OR ASSAULT BY CAMP OFFICIALS. ONL ONE OF THESE APPEARED TO BE GENUINE BUT ACTION COULD NOT BE TAKEN AS THE VICTIM DECIDED NOT TO LODGE A FORMAL REPORT.
THE GROUP HAS ALSO LOOKED INTO 16 OTHER ALLEGATIONS OF ILL-TREATMENT OR ASSAULT CONTAINED IN THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S RECORDS AND HAS NOTED THAT, IN THE FOUR CASES IN WHICH THE ALLEGATIONS WERE PROVED, DISCIPLINARY ACTION HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN AGAINST THE STAFF CONCERNED.
THE GROUP HAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NEVER ANY QUESTION OF THE GOVERNMENT ADOPTING A POLICY OF DELIBERATE DEPRIVATION TOWARDS THE REFUGEES ON THE CONTRARY, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GENUINE CONCERN AT ALL LEVELS FOR THE REFUGEES' WELL-BEING.
THE GROUP PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE MANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, AUXILIARY SERVICES AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH HAVE CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE REFUGEES. IN PARTICULAR,
IT COMMENDS THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR GOOD WORK AS CAMP MANAGERS.
13