TNAG-1528-FCO40-2092-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 39

HONG KONG'S REFUGEE CAMPS, 1986

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We have visited all Hong Kong's refugee centres the closed camps at Chi Ma Wan (Upper and Lower), Hei Ling Chau, Cape Collinson and Bowring, the open camps at Kaitak and Jubilee, the Argyle Transit Centre and Victoria Prison. We have spoken to many of the people who are involved in caring for the refugees. We have also spoken to many refugees, though not to as many as we would have wished.

In visiting the camps we concentrated on four areas physical living conditions, educational facilities, freedom and independence, and the views of the refugees.

PHYSICAL LIVING CONDITIONS

We

Tens of thousands of long-time Hong Kong residents live in squatter huts or old, sub-standard government housing blocks. Their physical living conditions are poor. looked at the refugees' accommodation against this background.

Closed Camps

In purely physical terms, the closed camps are acceptable short-term accommodation. They are clean and provide the basic necessities of daily living. Food is provided to a diet approved by the Medical and Health Department.

Refugees complained that the large huts in which they live are cold in winter and hot in summer. Many huts are very dark. We are pleased to note that Cape Collinson camp has now been closed - it was extremely cramped, with very little space available for exercise. The medical facilities in the camps appear to be clean and adequate.

However, the overwhelming impression of all closed camps is that they are prisons. They are surrounded by tall fences and there are uniformed officers everywhere. Even moving within the camps involves an endless unlocking and locking of gates. Refugees are called on a Tannoy system.

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