TNAG-1392-FCO40-1864-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-for-meetings-and-visits-1985 — Page 155

CONFIDENTIAL

CONSEQUENCES OF THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY

7. Effect on arrivals

The policy has been

successful in its aims

in that

it appears ti

1983 arrival

have helped to reduce the number of refugee arrivals:

were 53% down on 1982, 1984 were 39% down on 1983, (compared wit}

of 36% in 1983, and 11% in 1984

in

the South East Asi ar

a whole). Against this success must be offset the

reductions

region as

following negative points:

(a) Social/psychological consequences

is now 17 months;

Average length of stay in the closed ceatres

longest stayers have been there 21 years. There is growing concerr

that the confinement i s making refugees more difficult to settle

elsewhere and prone to violence. There have been sporadic outbreak si

of violence and a 3 day hunger strike. Such manifestations seex

and

worsen unless prospects for resettlement

certain to

increase

improve markedly.

(b) Western Public Opinion

Although there has been a perhaps surprising level of understanding

of what is undoubtedly a distasteful policy, it has been criticised

by some British MPs and journalists visiting Hong Kong. The British

Refugee Council, the main UK body concerned with refugee questions

have examined the policy and have made suggestions as to how the

centres might 52 improvel. Some of

these have been implemented.

The BRC, while remaining critical, appear to regard the centres as a

necessary evil, and recognise that there i s по prospect of the Hong

Kong Government abandoning them while boat people continue tc

arrive. UNHCR, although they help finance the centres, have stated

of refugees "under

time, in accordance

consider the

detention

publicly that they

prison-like conditions for prolonged periods of

with a

So policy of

-

called

humane

deterrence"

to be "at variance

with the principles of international protection".

(c) Hong Kong Public Opinion

There is strong public support for the closed centre policy in Hong

Many people feel that the Hong Kong Government's treatment of

Vietname se refugees is

especially when compared

Kong.

too

generous,

tc

CONFIDENTIAL