XN000022-1988-02-12 — Page 4

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1988

INVOLVEMENT WITH

"THE EXTENT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S

INITIATIVES PROPOSED IN THE WORKING GROUP'S REPORT WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN DUE COURSE.'

TURNING TO THE QUESTION OF MANAGEMENT OF THE CLOSED CENTRES MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE GOVERNMENT FIRMLY BELIEVED THAT THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WAS THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT FOR THE JOB.

"IT IS THE ONLY ORGANISATION WITH THE EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE NECESSARY FOR THE MANAGING OF CENTRES FOR LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN A CONFINED ENVIRONMENT.

"WE DO NOT AGREE THAT ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT OR VOLUNTARY ..GENCY HAS THE REQUISITE EXPERTISE, MR JEAFFRESON SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE MAJORITY OF CSD STAFF WORKING IN THE CLOSED CENTRES WERE SPECIALLY RECRUITED AND TRAINED FOR REFUGEE WORK.

"VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE TRAINING COURSES ARE ARRANGED FOR THE CSD

STAFF TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN THE CENTRES.

"CSD STAFF REGULARLY MEET WITH THE HUT REPRESENTATIVES AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AT THE CAMP MANAGEMENT LEVEL AND CSD HEADQUARTERS PERSONNEL ALSO REGULARLY VISIT AND HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH HUT REPRESENTATIVES AND THE AGENCIES.'

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MR JEAFFRESON DISAGREED WITH OXFAM THAT THERE WAS A "BIGNIFICANT CRIME PROBLEM" AT THE KAJ TAK TRANSIT CENTRE.

"CERTAINLY THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH A MINORITY OF THE REFUGEES WHO GET INTO TROUBLE, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE REFUGEES ARE LAW-ABIDING.

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MR JEAFFRESON STRESSED THAT THERE WAS NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST REFUGEES ATTENDING GOVERNMENT CLINICS OR HOSPITALS.

ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE LAST YEAR FOR REFUGEES ΤΟ ATTEND GOVERNMENT CLINICS AND HOSPITALS ON THE SAME BASIS AND SUBJECT TO THE SAME CHARGES AS LOCAL RESIDENTS.

ON RESETTLEMENT, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE GOVERNMENT AGREED THAT THE MAJOR BURDEN OF RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD FALL ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

"HONG KONG HAS DONE AND CONTINUES TO Do ITS PROVIDING A PLACE OF FIRST ASYLUM AND IN THE SETTLEMENT PLACES.

NOT

SHARE. BOTH IN OFFER OF LOCAL

POSSIBILITY OF AT THIS STAGE

"CONSIDERATION CURRENTLY BRING GIVEN TO THE RELAXING THE CRITERIA FOR LOCAL SETTLEMENT WOULD INVOLVE EXTENDING THIS SCHEME BEYOND THE 250 PLACES ORIGINALLY APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL, IN MAY 1986."

MR JEAFERESON