TNAG-1532-FCO40-2096-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-closed-camp-policy-1986 — Page 46

The in

Front?

understandable"; paragraph 13 of the Government's

Reply

to their Report sets out, as requested by the Committee, the circumstances in which we would withdraw our sanction from the closed camps policy, and makes it clear that the solution is in the hands of the authorities in Hanoi, and not of those in London or Hong Kong.

Since repatriation to Vietnam is not a feasible proposition at present the best way to reduce the need for the camps is to encourage resettlement in third countries. We have been doing this with some success. In 1985 the number of refugees in the open and closed camps was reduced - in each case by over one thousand despite the arrival of 1,112 more refugees. This trend has made it possible to close down recently the Cape Collinson Closed Centre.

The Hong Kong Government continue to monitor the numbers of arrivals and

departures with a view to making the best possible

accommodating the refugees given

arrangements

for

very limited space available in the territory.

very

the

In

Finally, the last United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (Mr Hartling) said publicly last year that inside the Bowring Closed Camp he "found the

the circumstances,

conditions,

encouraging". evidence to the Home Affairs Committee UNHCR recognised one of the motives behind the introduction of the policy: that Hong Kong had (as it still has) a higher proportion of 'long stayers' than other places of first asylum in South East Asia, whose refugees are usually resettled within two years of arrival. We continue to regard the establishment of the closed camps as a temporary measure, to be retained only for as long as circumstances require. We shall continue to do all we can to desirable, problem.

find

more

and above all durable, solutions to this sad

and above

と

Yo smires.

Clitsch Hun

CO Hum

Hong Kong Department