TNAG-1789-FCO40-2549-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1989 — Page 168

for

TMDB Paper No.548 | information16 SEP 1968

District Board Information Note

Liberalisation of Closed Centres for Vietnamese Refugees

The liberalisation of closed centres was first announced on 16 June as part of the package of measures concerning the new screening policy for Vietnamese Boat People. This paper outlines the gradual implementation of the liberalisation policy with a view to introducing outdoor activities for refugees in an organized and systematic manner prior to complete opening up of closed

centres.

Vietnamese Refugees

2.

It is necessary to emphasize the point that the liberalisation of closed centres will only apply to those who are recognised as 'refugees', namely the pre-16 June arrivals and those who are screened-in as refugees.. Al1 -_ ̈ post-16 June arrivals are subject to screening and those screened out will continue to be detained in detention

centres pending repatriation to Vietnam. The current refugee population in closed centres is distributed as

follows: -

Closed Centre

No. of Refugees

Tuen Mun (Bowring)

3,064

San Yick (in Tuen Mun)

4,018

Sham Shui Po

5,147

Cape Collinson

619

Kai Tak Departure Centre

278

13,126

(Note: (1)

2,603 refugees currently reside at Kai Tak Open Centre)

(2) The annual resettlement rate is about

2,500 to 3,000)

(3)

For the age

structure of the closed centre population, see Annex I).

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