XN000022-1990-11-16 — Page 12

11

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1990

FC APPROVES MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR NEW VBP CENTRE

* * * * * * *

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (FRIDAY) VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE APPROVED MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE NEW

MILLION PER DETENTION CENTRE ON TAI A CHAU WHICH WILL COST ABOUT $40 ANNUM.

THE HONG THE MANAGEMENT WILL BE CARRIED OUT UNDER CONTRACT BY

SERVICES KONG HOUSING

FOR REFUGEES (HKHSR), A NON-PROFIT MAKING OPEN REFUGEE CENTRE AGENCY WHICH HAS BEEN MANAGING THE PILLAR POINT

AGREEMENT WITH IN TUEN MUN SINCE 1989 UNDER AN

THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR).

A GOVERNMENT

SPOKESMAN SAID

WITH THE

DOUBLING OF THE THE TASK OF THE

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE POPULATION IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, MANNING THE DETENTION CENTRES HAD PLACED A CONSIDERABLE BURDEN ON POLICE, CORRECTION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND CIVIL AID SERVICES.

ON THEIR NORMAL "THIS FACTOR, COUPLED WITH INCREASING DEMAND

ΤΟ DUTIES, SUCH AS

EXPLORE ENFORCEMENT, LAW

LED THE GOVERNMENT

CHAU

CENTRE ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF RUNNING TAI A

WITHOUT STRETCHING THE RESOURCES OF THESE DEPARTMENTS ANY FURTHER.

DETENTION

CONCLUDED

WE "FOLLOWING CAREFUL STUDY AND CONSULTATIONS THE BEST OPTION WOULD BE TO CONTRACT OUT THE MANAGEMENT TO AGENCY WITH PROVEN CAPABILITY AND EXPERIENCE IN MANAGING A CAMP, AND THIS HKHSR HAS," THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

BE

THAT

A PRIVATE VIETNAMESE

THE

TRY A NEW AND

"AN ADDITIONAL

WILL ADVANTAGE

THAT ENTRUSTING MANAGEMENT TO A VOLUNTARY AGENCY WILL ENABLE THEM TO MORE LIBERAL APPROACH IN RUNNING THE NEW CENTRE, HE ADDED.

FULL

HKHSR WILL BE REQUIRED TO ASSUME A

RANGE OF MANAGEMENT

THE SERVICES AT TAI A CHAU, FROM

DISTRIBUTION

RELIEF OF FOOD AND ITEMS TO GENERALLY ENFORCING CENTRE RULES AND KEEPING DISCIPLINE.

BE

OF SUPERVISION THE AGENCY WILL OPERATE UNDER THE OVERALL

THE IN ITS COMMISSIONER OF POLICE BUT WILL HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF AUTONOMY

MEDICAL SERVICES WILL

PROVIDED DAY-TO-DAY RUNNING OF THE CENTRE.

CAN BE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH UNTIL A SUITABLE VOLUNTARY AGENCY FOUND.

IS IN EXPENDITURE NEW CENTRE, WHICH KONG GOVERNMENT AND

THAT THE COST IT IS ESTIMATED

OF HIRING STAFF AND OTHER

BE SERVICES WILL

MILLION A $38.9

YEAR. THIS ADDITION TO THE $230 MILLION IT COST TO BUILD THE

HONG 50 BASIS BY THE IS BEING FUNDED ON A 50 THE UK GOVERNMENT.

―

READY то

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEW CENTRE WAS EXPECTED TO BE RECEIVE ITS FIRST OCCUPANTS BY MID-DECEMBER AND THIS WOULD ALLOW REDISTRIBUTION OF THE CURRENT POPULATION OF 44,600 BOAT PEOPLE, OF WHOM WERE LIVING IN CROWDED CONDITIONS IN THE EXISTING CENTRES.

SOME

MANY

/"TAI A