TNAG-1528-FCO40-2092-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 24

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The Hong Kong government bears overall responsibility for these camps,

which are administered by the Correctional Services Department (CSD). In

addition, voluntary agencies assist in providing social services for the

refugees in the camps--the Salvation Army in Chi Ma Wan, World Relief in Hei

Ling Chau, and Save the Children (U.K.) in Bowring.

Part of the criticism directed at the Hong Kong government has been

targeted at the CSD. Questions were raised about the appropriateness of using

this department--which runs prisons- --as the agency to administer the refugee

camps. Forced to hire new staff for the closed camps, CSD has been criticized

for being insensitive to the refugees' needs and treating them as common

criminals. Recently, the government acknowledged the department's short-

comings and is taking steps to improve the situation by further training of

staff to cope properly with the particular circumstances of the refugees.

Providing Assistance to Boat Refugees--Agencies Involved

Refugee assistance is provided through the cooperative efforts of the Hong

Kong government, the UNHCR, and voluntary agencies.

The Hong Kong government plays a leading role, not just in formulating

policy, but in providing logistics and resources for the care of the

refugees. The government agency with responsibility for day-to-day

administration of the refugee program is the Refugees Division in the Security

Branch of the Government Secretariat. In addition to administration, the

division helps shape policy on refugee affairs and carries out liaison with

the Correctional Services Department and other concerned departments (i.e.

Harbor Police, etc.), as well as with other agencies outside government, such

as the UNHCR, diplomatic missions, and the voluntary agencies. Since 1979,