TNAG-1532-FCO40-2096-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-closed-camp-policy-1986 — Page 10

SJAAGE

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AZ

HKK 243/12

UNHCR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (EXCOM) MEETING:

GENEVA, 6-13 OCTOBER

UNHCR NOTE (ES/SCP/44 OF 19 AUGUST) ON THE DETENTION OF REFUGEES AND

ASYLUM-SEEKERS

Points to Make

HONG KONG ASPECTS

HKK 243/4.

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

- 7 OCT 1986

(Defensive)

asked (If

1.

whether

INL

12+12:0

Meh

Hong Kong complies with the 1951

Convention.) 1951 Convention was not extended to Hong Kong because

territory's small size and geographical vulnerability to

of

illegal immigration.

mass

2.

asked (If

whether

closed Hong Kong's

in

Hong Kong runs

the Note.)

its camps

camps policy

not Confident Hong Kong is as humanely as possible in

is

a

the

criticised implicitly

target. light of the severe burdens the territory has borne in refugee and

immigration terms.

3.

(If asked about UNHCR's general attitude to Hong Kong's closed camps.) In mid-1985 Mr Hartling, the last United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said in Hong Kong that he did not like

that

he closed camp which

the conditions, very

idea of closed

but camps,

the inside

visited (Bowring) he "found the circumstances, encouraging". His conclusion was that the Hong Kong authorities and the voluntary agencies were doing a very good job, for which he was very grateful.

4.

Must emphasise

(If asked about conditions in closed camps.)

that HMG and the Hong Kong

Kong Government attach great importance to ensuring that refugees are adequately cared for within the camps.

Conditions

as good other refugee camps (open and closed) in the region.

in

the closed

camps are

at

least

as

those in

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