TNAG-1786-FCO40-2546-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-closed-camp-policy-1988 — Page 23

FOR PRU USE ONLY

OP Date

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION

For WRITTEN ANSWER on

22 JUNE 1988

Head of

HKD

Please submit :-

a draft Answer & background to Parliamentary Unit

52

SERIAL NO; 2784

W PARTY

TEXT OF QUESTION :-

DR JOHN MAREK (WREXHAM)

To ask the Secretary of State/HMG;

before

21/6/88 hein

if he will make it his policy not to keep any person for more than five years in a closed camp in Hong Kong.

HKA 243/4

to P/S

MR. EGGAR

(Minister)

for approval by

NOON

PQS

REPLY (s)

for answer by

MR. EGGAR

(Minister)

ANSWER:

As part of their new policy towards Vietnamese boat people arriving in the territory, the Hong Kong Government intend over the next 6 to 12 months to liberalise the regime in the centres which will house all those accorded refugee status. Those arriving after 16 June who are not accorded refugee status will be detained in closed centres without access to resettlement, pending their return to Vietnam as soon as internationally acceptable conditions for this

are established.

copy to

Private Secretary

PS/LORD GLENARTHUR

(Minister)

Parliamentary Clerk

authorised

С ски Мит (Head of Dept.)