TNAG-1533-FCO40-2097-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-closed-camp-policy-1986 — Page 13

FOR THE SALVATION ARMY, DISMISSED BY THE ORGANISATION, HAS WAGED A ONE-WOMAN CAMPAIGN IN NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA AND THE UK CONDEMNING

THE CLOSED CENTRES. EARLY THIS YEAR, A REPORT PREPARED BY LORD

CHITNIS, THE CHAIRMAN OF REFUGEE ACTION (A VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION

DEALING WITH THE RESETTLEMENT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN THE UNITED

KINGDOM), ATTACKED THE POLICY AND CONDITIONS IN THE CLOSED CENTRES.

LATER IN THE YEAR, OXFAM PUBLISHED A REPORT WHICH, IN A MUCH

MILDER MANNER, CONTINUED THE CRITICISM.

22. IN ALL OF THESE REPORTS THE 'PRISON-LIKE' ATMOSPHERE OF THE

CLUSED CENTRES, THE ROLE OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENET AND THE LIVING, WORKING AND EDUCATION CONDITIONS FORMED THE MAJOR

PART OF THE CRITICISM. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN PROPOSALS FOR SELF-

MANAGEMENT OF CLOSED CENTRES BY THE REFUGEES THEMSELVES AND FOR SOME

FORM OF PAROLE, PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN, FROM A CLOSED CENTRE TO

AN OPEN CENTRE AFTER FIVE, SIX OR SEVEN YEARS. A SUMMARY OF

OXFAM'S MAIN POINTS IS AT ANNEX C. ALL OF THE MATERIAL IMPROVEMENTS

WHICH IT RECOMMENDS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED OR ARE BEING INTRODUCED,

TO THE EXTENT THAT SPACE AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT ALLOW.

COST OF THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY

23. APART FROM THE COST IN TERMS OF HONG KONG'S REPUTATION SET OUT IN THE PARAGRAPHS ABOVE, THE CLOSED CENTRES CONSTITUTE A

CONSIDERABLE DRAIN ON HONG KONG'S FINANCIAL RESOURCES. SINCE THEY

WERE INTRODUCED IN JULY 1982 APPROXIMATELY 250 MILLION DOLLARS

HAS BEEN SPENT ON THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF REFUGEES IN CLOSED

CENTRES. LESS THAN 15 PERCENT OF THIS EXPENDITURE HAS BEEN BORNE

BY THE UNHCR AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES. IN FY 1985/86 ALONE

EXPENDITURE ON CLOSED CENTRES WAS MORE THAN 64 MILLION DOLLARS (IF ON COST, SALARY BENEFITS AND ACCOMMODATION WERE INCLUDED, THE TOTAL WOULD BE 90 MILLION DOLLARS), WITH 53 MILLION DOLLARS (83 PERCENT) COMING FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. THESE FIGURES DO NOT TAKE

INTO ACCOUNT THE OPPORTUNITY COST OF THE LAND PRESENTLY USED AT

HEI LING CHAI, CHI MA WAN AND TUEN MUN FOR CLOSED CENTRES.

24. OTHER PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM PAY VERY LITTLE TOWARDS THE UPKEEP

OF THEIR REFUGEES. THEY LOOK TO THE UNHCR TO MEET THE MAJOR PART

OF THE COST AND TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CAMPS (IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE UNHCR CONTRIBUTES MORE THAN HALF THE

COST OF MAINTINING THE TWO OPEN CENTRES IN HONG KONG AND IS

RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT).

FURTHER ACTION

25. TO SUMMARISE THE FOREGOING PARAGRAPHS, THE PROBLEMS FACING

HONG KONG ARE:

(A) RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS ARE REDUCING PARTLY BECAUSE FEWER REFUGEES ARE QUALIFYING AGAINST THE CRITERIA THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES INSIST ON APPLYING TO DETERMINE WHICH REFUGEES THEY WILL ACCEPT AND PARTLY BECAUSE THESE COUNTRIES ARE INCREASINGLY

CONFIDENTIAL

/COMING