TNAG-1419-FCO40-1902-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 189

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SCORRI REPORT: PASSAGE FOR INCLUSION IN WHITE PAPER

CLOSED CAMPS

RECOMMENDATION 2:

MICIC 243/

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

23 AUG 1985

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PECTORY

PA

Action Taken

L

(i) Closed Camps should

should be abolished and their

inmates transferred to open camps

(ii)

If the Closed Camps are not abolished, the

FCO should put on record immediately the

circumstances in which it would withdraw

its sanction from the closed camp policy

1.

HMG have

considered these recommendations

to

carefully in close consultation with the Hong Kong

Government. As Mr Luce made clear in his evidence

the Sub-Committee, neither HMG nor the Hong Kong

Government regard it as satisfactory or desirable that

refugees should be confined to closed camps.

present situation

is far from ideal, and HMG fully

The

understand why it causes

HMG share that concern.

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.

c amp s

"The

The report correctly states that

we re introduced in July 1982 as a

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

Government and HMG felt that s ome kind of

was necessary

refugees were

because although the rate

arriving in Hong Kong had

closed

policy

of

Vietname se

Hong Kong

deterrent

at

which

stabilised

152