XN000022-1988-09-07 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1988

SPEEDIER RELAXATION OF CONDITIONS IN CLOSED CENTRES

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO BRING FORWARD ITS PLANS FOR THE PROGRESSIVE RELAXATION OF THE CONDITIONS IN THE CLOSED CENTRES HOUSING REFUGEES WHO ARRIVED IN HONG KONG BEFORE JUNE 16.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT AS PART OF THE PACKAGE OF MEASURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEW SCREENING POLICY, THE GOVERNMENT HAD AGREED IN JUNE THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO EMBARK ON A SCHEME OF RELAXATION AT THE PRESENT CLOSED CENTRES.

"IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT AN EARLIER START ON RELAXING THE CLOSED CAMP CONDITIONS IS NOW BOTH POSSIBLE AND DESIRABLE, HE SAID.

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"EARLY RELAXATION WILL ENABLE THE UNHCR TO ASSUME OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND MEET ALL OF THE OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR THE CAMPS AN EARLIER DATE.

AT

"IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE SAVINGS TO GOVERNMENT WILL BE ABOUT $150 MILLION A YEAR.

RELAXATION

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHO HAD ARRIVED BEFORE THE JUNE 16.

WOULD ONLY APPLY то CHANGE IN POLICY ON

"VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE ARRIVED ON OR AFTER JUNE 16 WILL CONTINUE TO BE DETAINED PENDING SCREENING AND THE DETERMINATION OF THEIR STATUS.

"THOSE WHO ARE SCREENED OUT WILL BE HELD IN DETENTION CENTRES PENDING REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM, HE STRESSED.

1.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROGRAMME

WITH SCHOOLING, RECREATION AND WORK.

FOR RELAXATION WOULD START

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY DECIDED TO ALLOW VIETNAMESE CHILDREN FROM SAN YICK AND SHAM SHUI PO TO LEAVE THEIR CAMPS BACH DAY TO ATTEND SCHOOLS FOR REFUGEES RUN BY THE UNHCR.

"THE PROGRAMME WILL START VERY SOON AND WILL USE THE NEW HORIZON SCHOOL AT THE KAI TAK OPEN CAMP, AND A SECOND SCHOOL YET ΤΟ BE ESTABLISHED.

"BOTH SCHOOLS WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR REFUGEES CHILDREN AND THERE WILL BE NO MIXING OF REFUGEE AND LOCAL CHILDREN.

CAMPS,

"ONCE SUFFICIENT SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION BECOMES AVAILABLE, THE SCHOOLING PROGRAMME CAN BE EXTENDED TO ALL CHILDREN IN CLOSED HE SAID.

/TURNING TO