TNAG-1789-FCO40-2549-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1989 — Page 142

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

(22x

Telephone 01- 270 2653

Preparatory Committee to Oppose

Your reference

the Setting Up of Open Centres at

Our reference

PJMAJP

Buterfly Bay Area c/o Mr Tse Ka-Wai

Tip Mo House Butterfly Estate

Mutual Aid Committe

Date

Dear Committee

HED 243/5

И

01 December 1988

Thank you for your letter to HRH The Princess Anne of 17 September, to which I have been instructed to reply.

Please rest assured that the Hong Kong Government fully appreciates your worries. I am informed that the setting up of an open centre for Vietnamese refugees would have no major impact on the services to the community near the open camp. Most service to refugees will be provided by the UNHCR and voluntary agencies in the camps.

For example, the schools for refugee children will be established and operated by the UNHCR through its nominated voluntary agency.

Their children will not attend local schools.

As regards employment, a voluntary agency will commence an employment placement service under the auspices of the UNHCR. agency will look for suitable jobs for refugees throughout the territory and not just Tuen Mun. Vocational training will be organised by UNHCR so that there would be no sudden dumping of unskilled workers on the labour market.

The

Insofar as public order is concerned, the Hong Kong Government will make sure there is sufficient Police presence. Every effort will be made to develop a law-abiding and responsible community from the first day they move to the camp. I have no doubt the interests of the local residents will be fully taken into account in the process of implementation of the liberalisation scheme.

I