TNAG-1524-FCO40-2088-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1986 — Page 4

Jubilee Open Centre (which has been the most criticised of all refugee centres, both open and closed) to be closed;

(c) the remaining refugees to be combined into

one open centre at Kai Tak;

(a)

the resources of the UNHCR and the voluntary agencies to be focused in one, rather than two, open centres.

Details of the proposal are set out in a letter to the UNHCR at Annex D.

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On the basis of the commitments made by the representatives of the United States, Canadian and Australian Governments in Hong Kong, it is likely that there will be a significant reduction in the open centre refugee population in the latter half of 1986. Based on firm commitments they have made (as part of their existing quota) and on the fact that the majority of the United Kingdom family reunion cases are in open centres, it is likely that the target population of about 3,400 will be achieved in the second half of 1986. It will then be possible to combine the two open centres into one at Kai Tak, and to close and to demolish Jubilee Open Centre.

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Combining the two open centre's into one will present problems. Northerner's and Southerner's will, once again, be together in one centre. This has given rise to disturbances in the past and special attention will be given to the design of the combined open centre at Kai Tak. It is planned to have separate, segregated

segregated living accommodation with common areas for the school, clinic and nursery. In addition, renovations will be

be carried out to Kai Tak Open Centre and funds for improvements will be sought from the UNHCR out of the savings it will realise as a result of closing down Jubilee Open Centre.

the

of resettlement

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Predicting the number of open centre refugees after 1986 becomes more difficult. There can be no guarantee that the additional resettlement places received by Hong Kong in 1986 will be provided again in 1987. Indeed there is no guarantee that even

present rate

of approximately 3,750 per annum will be repeated after 1986. Nevertheless, given an open centre population of about 3,400 with about 600 living outside, it is suggested that, conjunction with the three major resettlement countries Immigration Department should review carefully all of remaining

centre refugees open

in

to order

determine accurately as possible, whether they have any real chance of being resettled. It is possible that out of the 4,000

in

the

the

as