TNAG-1787-FCO40-2547-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1988 — Page 219

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PTAADX

24

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

HUD 243/5

Points to make (defensive)

3

Closed Centres

Closed centre policy was introduced with the greatest reluctance

to avert a situation which was rapidly becoming intolerable. Hong

Kong Government believe and we agree that these centres still have a

deterrent effect, and are thus a regrettable necessity.

Hong Kong Government consider Correctional Services Department to be the service best suited in Hong Kong to perform difficult task

of running closed centres. CSD administer a variety of

institutions, not just prisons, and most staff working in closed

centres are recruited for this task and are not trained prison

officers.

International Conference on Vietnamese Refugee issue

Believe that a conference at this time on Vietnamese refugees

alone would be unlikely to attract wide international support.

If conference held on Indo-Chinese refugee situation as a whole would almost certainly become enmeshed in Cambodia issue.

Best way

forward is through continuing discussions with main resettlement countries, places of first asylum, UNHCR and Vietnam.

Position of Refugees in Hong Kong after 1997

It is our firm intention that Vietnamese refugee problem in Hong

Kong be fully resolved well before 1997.

(If necessary) In any event the Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong provides for the continuation after 30 June 1997 of Hong Kong's present social and legal systems and so any refugees then in Hong Kong should retain their current status.

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