TNAG-1419-FCO40-1902-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 148

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SCORRI REPORT: PASSAGE FOR INCLUSION IN WHITE PAPER

CLOSED CAMPS

RECOMMENDATION 2:

(i) Closed Camps should be abolished and their

inmates transferred to open camps

(ii)

I f the Closed Camps are not abolished, the

FCO should put on record immediately the

circumstances in which i t would withdraw its sanction from the closed camp policy

1.

HMG

have

carefully in close

considered these recommendations

consultation with the Hong Kong

Government. As Mr Luce made clear in his evidence to

neither HMG nor the Hong Kong

as satisfactory or desirable that

confined to closed camps.

the Sub-Committee,

Government regard it

refugees should be

present situation

understand why it causes

HMG share that concern.

i s

The

far from ideal, and HMG fully

concern to the Sub-Committee.

However for the practical

reasons explained below, in present circumstances HMG

see no alternative to continuing the policy.

REASON FOR INTRODUCTION OF POLICY

2.

camp s

The

report correctly states that "The closed.

we re introduced in July 1982 as a policy

"humane deterrence" to discourage other Vietname from coming to Hong Kong" (Para 20). The Hong Kong

Government and HMG felt that s ome kind of

deterre

rate at which

was necessary because although

the

refugees were

arriving in Hong Kong

had

had stabl