TNAG-1423-FCO40-1906-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 38

DOES THE FCO REALLY BELIEVE THAT CLOSED CAMPS

HAVE A DETERRENT EFFECT?

CLOSED CENTRES INTRODUCED JULY 1982. IN 1981, BEFORE THE

START OF THE POLICY, HONG KONG ARRIVALS INCREASED BY 25% OVER

1980 LEVELS, WHEREAS THOSE FOR THE REGION AS A WHOLE INCREASED

BY ONLY 5%. IN 1982, HONG KONG ARRIVALS WENT DOWN BY ONLY 7%.

COMPARED WITH A REGIONAL DECLINE OF 41%. IN 1983, HOWEVER,

BY WHICH TIME THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY WAS WELL ESTABLISHED AND

WIDELY KNOWN ABOUT IN VIETNAM, HONG KONG ARRIVALS WERE 53%

LESS THAN THOSE FOR 1982, COMPARED WITH A REGIONAL DECLINE OF

36%. IN 1984 THE HONG KONG DECREASE WAS 39%, AND THAT FOR THE

REGION ONLY 11%. NOT ABSOLUTE PROOF BUT SUGGESTS POLICY IS

HAVING SOME EFFECT.

QUESTIONS ON UNHCR CRITICISMS OF POLICY

AWARE THAT UNHCR HAS CRITICISED POLICIES OF HUMANE

DETERRENCE" UNDER WHICH REFUGEES ARE DETAINED FOR PROLONGED

PERIODS. HMG AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHARED DISTASTE FOR SUCH

MEASURES. INTRODUCED RELUCTANTLY. NECESSARY EVIL. WE OF COURSE

LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN THE FLOW OF ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM

REDUCES AND THE LEVEL OF RESETTLEMENT INCREASES TO AN EXTENT

THAT ENABLES THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO RELAX THE POLICY.

CLOSED CENTRES RUN IN CO-OPERATION WITH UNHCR WHO CURRENTLY

PAY ONE THIRD OF ANNUAL CASH EXPENDITURE,(HK$ 20 MILLION OUT OF

A TOTAL OF HK$ 60 MILLION IN 1984).

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THE FIGURE FOR THE TOTAL

COST TO HK WAS HK$ 110 MILLION (UNHCR ALSO PROVIDE CENTRAL

SERVICES AND HAVE RECRUITED AN EDUCATIONAL CO-ORDINATOR FOR THE

CLOSED CENTRES).