TNAG-1274-FCO40-1624-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 209

Question:

HKK 243/$.

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Question No. 12

Draft Reply by the Secretary for Security to a Question by the Hon. Mrs. Selina CHOW LIANG Shuk-yee, JP., in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, 10 August, 1983

Will Government inform this Council

243/1

(a) how many births have been recorded to Vietnamese

Refugees in HongKong camps during the last 12 months and what percentage of refugee population growth this represents;

(b) how this figure compares with that for the previous

12 months; and

e whether the birth rate in Jubilee Camp is higher than

in other camps because of a lack of family planning programmes?

Reply:

sir,

(a)

(b)

(c)

In the 12 months to 30 June 1983, 544 births were recorded in Vietnamese refugee centres, amounting to an increase in the refugee population of 4.3%.

During the preceding 12 months a total of 106

births were recorded in the centres, an increase of 3.3%; and

To date the birth rate in the Jubilee Transit Centre has been marginally higher than that in the Kai Tak

Transit Centre and the closed centres. There are several reasons for this: the age and origins of the refugees in this particular centre and the length of time they have been in Hong Kong, for instance. As to family planning, Caritas who manage the Jubilee Centre, and very well in very difficult circumstances, run a family life education programme there not only for married couples but also for girls in the relevant age bracket.