TNAG-1541-FCO40-2105-Further-resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-i-1986 — Page 52

HIRE?

(C)

THERE WOULD BE RESENTMENT IN HONG KONG AT WHAT WOULD BE

SEEN AS MORE FAVOURABLE TREATMENT FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES THAN

FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA, PARTICULARLY ILLEGAL

IMMIGRANT CHILDREN.

29. THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION OF HONG KONG MAKING ANY SIGNIFICANT

CHANGE IN CONDITIONS IN CLOSED CENTRES. BUT THE IMPROVEMENTS IN

EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, ADULT EDUCATION AND SOCIAL AND

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WILL CONTINUE, SUBJECT TO FINANCIAL AND

PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS. IN PARTICULAR, EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO

IMPROVE THE EDUCATION PROVIDED FOR CHILDREN IN THE CLOSED CENTRES.

ONE OF OUR MAIN PROBLEMS IS SHORTAGE OF SPACE FRO CLASSROOMS? THE

POSSIBILITY OF USING EMPTY CLASSROOMS IN DISUSED SCHOOLS OUTSIDE THE CLOSED CENTRES IS BEING EXAMINED. IF ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE

FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN TO ATTEND CLASSES IN SUCH CLASSROOMS, AN ADDED

ADVANTAGE WILL BE THAT THEY WILL GAIN MORE EXPERIENCE OF LIFE

OUTSIDE THE CAMPS.

PUBLIC REACTION

30. PUBLIC REACTION IN HONG KONG IS UNLIKELY TO BE CRITICAL OF THE

GOVERNMENT FOR CONTINUING WITH THE PRESENT CLOSED CENTRE POLICY.

BUT CRITICISM FROM SOME ORGANISATIONS IN HONG KONG AND OVERSEAS

WILL NO DOUBT CONTINUE. THE PUBLIC IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY AWARE

OF HKG'S RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER.

31. MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO NOTE THAT:

ENDS

(A) GIVEN THE PRESSING NEED TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO DETER ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE

WITH ITS PRESENT CLOSED CENTRE POLICY: AND

(B)

VIGOROUS APPROACHES WILL CONTINUE TO BE MADE TO HMG TO

SEEK A RENEWED OFFTAKE OF REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG OR A

DETERMINED APPROACH TO THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES TO STEM THE

OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM.''

AKERS-JONES

HML NAN 6068

BOAT PEOPLE

LIMITED

HKD

SEAD

WED

UND

FED

NEWS D

MAED

PS

PS/MR RENTON PS/MR EGGAR MR GILLMORE

MR SLATER

MR WILSON

MR BRAITHWAITE

ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION

BOAT PEOPLE

४ . CONFIDENTIAL