When the policy of repatriating illegal immigrants was introduced, it was done in the knowledge that those who were returned were not harshly treated. This remains the case today. The Chinese authorities regard these people, nearly all of them young, as having committed a civil misdemeanour, rather than a criminal offence, and there is no evidence that anybody who has been repatriated has faced physical danger.
I am also satisfied that the Hong Kong Government apply this policy in the most humane way possible. The detained immigrants are well fed and given new clothes if necessary. A doctor calls at the detention centre each day. Every detainee is closely interviewed, and if there are exceptional humanitarian reasons repatriation is not carried out. The whole process is completed quickly and sympathetically - in the great majority of cases within a maximum of 48 hours.
I would like to emphasise that none of those who have been repatriated have claimed to be refugees in the sense that they were fleeing from persecution in their own country; they were simply attracted by the bright lights and higher material standard of living in Hong Kong. I should also like to take this opportunity to point out that the figure of nearly 12,000 illegal immigrants repatriated since 1974, quoted by your constituent from Hansard of 8 May, was not in fact correct. The right figure is just under 4,800. Evan Luard has written to Robert Parry (who asked the Question concerned) to put right our mistake and Hansard will be corrected in due
course.
Rear Admiral M C Morgan-Giles MP
DSO OBE GM
House of Commons LONDON SWIA OAA
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