A
2(8) DETENTION
LINE TO TAKE
CONFIDENTIAL
The Immigration Department is reluctant to detain applicants for
asylum unecessarily and attempts not to do so. Applicants are generally
granted temporary admission whilst their claim is investigated, temporary
admission is only usually withheld if it is feared that the applicant
may abscond or that he presents a threat to national security.
BACKGROUND
Under Section 4(2)(d) of the Immigration Act 1971 the Immigration Officer
at the port of entry has the power to detain an applicant pending further
examination or removal. There are facilities at ports to detain passengers,
however, if the applicant has friends or relatives willing to provide
accommodation, or a refugee agency to help find suitable accommodation then
temporary admission is usually granted to avoid unecessary detention if
there appears no likelihood of their absconding.
It is likely that the existence of closed camps in Hong Kong which were
established in 1982/83 as a means of dissuading Vietnamese boat-people
from irregular, and hazardous, departures, will mean that criticism during
debate in both the Protection Sub-Committee and Excom on the agenda item
concerning detention of asylum seekers will be directed to Hong Kong and,
as the colonial power, the United Kingdom. It will accordingly be
necessary to collate a line to take with the Hong Kong representative in
the United Kingdom delegation.
CONFIDENTIAL
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