TNAG-1796-FCO40-2556-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 168

CONFIDENTIAL

026725

MDHIAN 1771

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS THAT ASYLUM SEEKERS, SCREENED OUT PERSONS AND REFUGEES WILL NOT BE CONFINED TO THEIR DOMITORIES FROM

DUSK TO DAWN. THE HONG KONG GOVERMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT EXEPTION-

ALLY TO CONFINE OCCUPANTS TO THEIR DORMITORIES WHEN SECURITY

REQUIREMENTS MAKE THIS NECESSARY. SUCH MEASURES WILL BE ADOPTED

ONLY ON A TEMPORARY BASIS TO BE DISCONTINUED WHEN NORMAL CONDITIONS RETURN.

(D)

CLOSED CENTRES LIBERALISATION

(1) LIBERALISATION OF CLOSED CENTRES

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL START A PROGRESSIVE LIBERALISATION OF THE

CLOSED CENTRES IN SITU. THE UNHCR THROUGH THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES

WILL PROGRESSIVELY ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE

CLOSED CENTRES TO BE LIBERALISED. THE TIMETABLE FOR LIBERALISATION

INCLUDING THE TRANSFER OF MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE

ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE HKG AND UNHCR.

(2) SAN YICK

UNHCR DOES NOT CONSIDER SAN YICK TO BE SUITABLE FOR ACCOMMODATING ASYLUM SEEKERS, SCREENED-OUT PERSONS OR REFUGEES AND URGES HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO TRANSFER THE OCCUPANTS TO ANOTHER SITE AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY. IN THE INTERIM PERIOD IT REQUESTS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO TAKE STEPS TO LIBERALISE THE CAMP BY ALLOWING

CHILDREN OUT FOR EDUCATION AND LETTING ADULTS OUT FOR EMPLOYMENT

TRAINING AND RECREATION PURPOSES.

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO PREPARE THE SAN YICK

BUILDING FOR USE AS EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION FOR REFUGEES WAS

DICTATED BY THE PRESSURE OF A CONTINUING HIGH RATE OF ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM. HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR REPLACEMENT ACCOMMODATION. IN THE MEANTIME THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO IMPLEMENT THE LIBERALISATION OF SAN YICK

AS QUICKLY AND TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED BY THE PARTICULAR CONDITIONS OF THE BUILDING.

UNHCR AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WILL ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF

SERVICES AS PART OF THE PROGRAMME FOR THE INTERIM LIBERALISATION

OF THE CENTRE.

(3) TUN MUN AREA 46A

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO DEVELOP AN OPEN REFUGEE CAMP AT

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CONFIDENTIAL