GRS 350
RESTRICTED
DESKEY FCO 17023DZ
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG 160315Z DEC 84
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3805 OF 16 DECEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
395
TOP COPY
HKK 040 57
RECEIVED ON REGISTRY
C:
17 DEC 1934
REGISTRY
1. 2
YOUR TELNO 2474 : VR'S : BRC REPORT
**BEHIND BARBED WIRE''
Л
1. THE LATEST POSITION ON EACH OF THE BRC'' RECOMMENDATIONS
IS AS FOLLOWS:
(A) ''THAT HUSBANDS AND WIVES SEPARATED BY THE CLOSED CAMP POLICY NO LONGER BE FORCED TO LIVE APART'': EXCO AGREED LAST MONTH THAT VR'S IN OPEN CENTRES WHO CLAIN TO HAVE CLOSE RELATIVES IN A CLOSED CENTRE MAY LIVE WITH THEM IN THE CLOSED CENTRE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS. THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF ASKING ALL THOSE IN THE OPEN CENTRES WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY APPLIED FOR REUNION'' WHETHER THEY WISH TO TAKE UP THIS OFFER.
(5) THAT THE CRAMPED CONDITIONS IN CAPE COLLINSON CAMP ARE TOTALLY UNSUITABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR OVER 500 PEOPLE AND MUST BE REVIEWED IMMEDIATELY'': WE FAIL TO COMPREHEND BRC'S CONTINUED FIXATION WITH THE CENTRE AT CAPE COLLINSON. THE VR'S IN THE OTHER CLOSED CENTRES RECOGNISE IT TO BE THE BEST MANAGED AND MOST ORDERLY OF THE CENTRES IN HONG KONG, AND CSD RECEIVES FREQUENT APPLICATIONS FROM THOSE IN CHI MA WAN AND HEI LING CHAU TO TRANSFER THERE. WE UNDERSTAND THE LOCAL UNHCR OFFICE HAS RECEIVED SIMILAR APPLICATIONS, AND HAS PASSED THESE ON VIA ITS LONDON OFFICE FOR
BRO'S INFORMATION.
(C) THAT ADMINISTRATION OF THE CAMPS BE HANDED OVER TO A MORE APPROPRIATE BODY THAN THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE REFUGESS GIVEN A FAR GREATER ROLE IN THE THE RUNNING OF SERVICES': WE DO NOT (NOT) ACCEPT BRC'S CRITICISM OF CSD'S ROLE. CSD IS THE SERVICE BEST SUITED IN HONG KONG TO PERFORM THE DIFFICULT TASK OF RUNNING THE CLOSED CENTRES. THE PECORD OF CONTINUING MINOR (AND ONE MAJOR) DISTURBANCES IN THE OPEN CENTRES, WHICH ARE RUN BY THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, DOES NOT LEAD US TO BELIEVE THAT MANAGEMENT OF THE CLOSED CENTRES COULD BE SAFELY PLACED IN HANDS OTHER THAN THOSE OF AN EXPERIENCED AND DISCIPLINED SERVICE SUCH AS CSD. THE SPECIFIC POINTS THAT BRC MAKES ABOUT A LACK OF COMMUNICATION IN THE CENTRES ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED: SOME OF THE STAFF DO SPEAK SOME VIETNAMESE, MANY OF THE VR'S NOW SPEAK SOME ENGLISH OR CANTONES, AND THERE ARE ALWAYS OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL INTERPRETES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT. THE DAILY AFFAIRS OF EACH CENTRE ARE PUN IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH INDIVIDUAL CENTRE COMMITTEES COMPOSED OF ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH
HUT.
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