XN000022-1982-06-17 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1982

CLOSED CAMPS PLANNED FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

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THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY REVIEWED ITS POLICY ON VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND HAS CONCLUDED THAT CLOSED CAMPS SHOULD BE SET UP IN WHICH TO DETAIN THEM. THE BILL WILL ENABLE EFFECT TO BE GIVEN TO THE NEW POLICY BY PROVIDING THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE NECESSARY POWERS TO SET UP CLOSED CAMPS, TO DETAIN REFUGEES IN THEM AND TO DRAW UP RULES FOR THE GOOD MANAGEMENT OF THE CAMPS.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT ALSO PROVIDES THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE ADDITIONAL LEGAL POWERS TO REPATRIATE ANY REFUGEES IF AND WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT.

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR LEWIS DAVIES, SAID TODAY THAT RECENT DEVELOPMENTS HAVE MADE IT NECESSARY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE STRONGER MEASURES TO DETER THE FLOW OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES INTO HONG KONG AND, IN THE INTEREST OF MAINTAINING ORDER IN OPEN CAMPS, BY TAKING POWERS TO DETAIN CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.

MR DAVIES SAID THAT THE DECISION TO SET UP CLOSED CAMPS WAS TAKEN AFTER CAREFUL STUDY OF THE CONTINUING OUTFLOW OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM INTO THE REGION GENERALLY, PARTICULARLY INTO HONG KONG, AND OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS. THESE DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDE A REDUCTION IN RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, A CALL BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT FOR FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES TO ADOPT A POLICY OF +HUMANE DETERRENCE+ TO DISCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE FROM LEAVING VIETNAM, AND RECENT DISTURBANCES IN THE REFUGEE CAMP AT KAI TAK.

THIS DECISION WAS TAKEN AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH UNHCR.

+THE MAIN AIM IN SETTING UP CLOSED CAMPS IS TO DISCOURAGE MORE REFUGEES FROM LEAVING VIETNAM, + MR DAVIES SAID. +CLOSED CAMPS WILL ALSO HELP TO DETER REFUGEES ALREADY IN HONG KONG FROM UNRULY BEHAVIOUR AND UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES, HE ADDED.

SUBJECT TO THE BILL BEING PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE NECESSARY FUNDS BEING VOTED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, IT IS PROPOSED TO SET UP CLOSED CAMPS WITH EFFECT FROM JULY 2, 1982 AND TO DETAIN ALL VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ARRIVING IN HONG KONG ON OR AFTER THAT DATE. IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE CAMPS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND TO ACHIEVE THE OPTIMUM DETERRENT BY DISCOURAGING PERSONS COMING HERE FROM VIETNAM, IT IS PROPOSED TO COMPLETE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN ONE SITTING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JUNE 30, 1982.

DETAILED ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SETTING UP CLOSED CAMPS ARE BEING WORKED OUT NOW. CAMPS WILL BE STAFFED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.