XN000022-1992-09-10 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1992

EARLIER,

ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, AND THE ACTING REFUGEE CO-ORDINATOR, MR EDDY CHAN, THE GOVERNOR ARRIVED AT THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE ΤΟ LEARN ABOUT THE LIFE OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS AND THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS.

HE WAS

BRIEFED BY THE ACTING COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR JOHN ASHWORTH, AND THE SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CENTRE, MR JASMINDER KANG, ON THE OPERATIONS OF THE CENTRE.

HE WAS TOLD THAT WHITEHEAD WAS THE LARGEST DETENTION CENTRE IN THE TERRITORY, HAVING A CAPACITY OF 25,000. MANAGED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, IT CURRENTLY ACCOMMODATES 22,000 VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS.

APART FROM DORMITORIES, THERE ARE VARIOUS FACILITIES INCLUDING SCHOOL COMPLEXES, CLINICS AND WORKSHOPS.

HE LEARNT THAT NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) PROVIDED A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES IN THE CENTRE. THESE INCLUDED VOCATIONAL TRAINING, WORK PROGRAMMES, BABY CARE, COUNSELLING AND RECREATION.

MR PATTEN FIRST TOURED A PURPOSE-BUILT SCHOOL COMPLEX AND WATCHED A CLASS IN SESSION.

PARTS.

THEN, HE VISITED A WORKSHOP WHERE VIETNAMESE

ASSEMBLED WATCH

AFTERWARDS, HE WALKED THROUGH TWO DORMITORIES AND TALKED TO SOME OF THE RESIDENTS.

THE

HAVING TOURED THE DETENTION CENTRE, MR PATTEN WENT ON то UNHCR OFFICE IN YAU MA TEI. THERE HE WAS MET BY THE CHIEF OF MISSION, MR ROBERT VAN LEEUWEN, AND HIS DEPUTY, MR KAISER ZAMAN.

HE WAS BRIEFED BY MR VAN LEEUWEN ON THE WORK OF THE UNHCR, HE WAS TOLD THAT UNHCR PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS IN HONG KONG.

IT ALSO DEVOTED CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES ΤΟ MONITORING AND ASSISTING THE REINTEGRATION OF RETURNEES BACK IN VIETNAM.

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MR PATTEN WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE UNHCR SUPPORTED HONG KONG IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ORDERLY REPATRIATION PROGRAMMES AND HELPED PROMOTE VOLUNTARY RETURN.

ON BEHALF OF THE UNHCR, MR VAN LEEUWEN PRESENTED A SOUVENIR GOVERNOR TO THANK HONG KONG FOR ITS HELP IN PROVIDING VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS IN THE TERRITORY.

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