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SUBSTANTIAL VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IF RETURNED CAN ONLY BE CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR SCREENING PROCEDURES. TO DO OTHERWISE WOULD CONSTITUTE A PULL FACTOR FOR MORE BOAT DEPARTURES.
CONDITIONS OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
11. THE OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG CAMPS MUST BE SEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF THE MASS INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE THIS SUMMER. IT IS SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE TO FIND SUFFICIENT SUITABLE TYPHOON-PROOF ACCOMMODATION QUICKLY FOR 18,000 PEOPLE TURNING UP ON ONES SHORES. NEVERTHELESS NEW CAMPS ARE NOW NEARING COMPLETION AND WE ARE STILL MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO CONDITIONS IN THE CLOSED CENTRES AND DETENTIONS CENTRES. SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR PLAN TO LIBERALISE THE CLOSED CENTRES. CHILDREN ARE GOING OUT OF THE CENTRES TO SCHOOLS AND ADULTS ARE BEING PERMITTED TO FIND EMPLOYMENT AND RECEIVE VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN HONG KONG. AS SOON AS THE UNHCR IS IN A POSITION TO ASSUME MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES, THE CLOSED CENTRES WILL BE FULLY OPENED. THE LIBERALISATION POLICY IS DIRECTED TOWARDS INCREASING THE REFUGEES' RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS AND WE EXPECT A POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES INCLUDING USA IN INCREASING THEIR RESETTLEMENT QUOTAS.
12. THE SAN YICK CLOSED CENTRE WILL BE SHUT DOWN AS SOON AS ALTERNATIVE ACCOMODATION IS AVAILABLE. THIS IS EXPECTED TO BE IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS TIME. THE POPULATION DENSITY IN SAN YICK HAS ALREADY BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED AND EVERY EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS IN THE CENTRE IN THE MEANTIME.
13.
ADDITIONAL INTERPRETERS HAVE BEEN ENGAGED TO PROVIDE FULL TIME SERVICES IN CAMPS, AND THERE ARE NOW NO RESTRICTIONS ON LETTER WRITING IN CAMPS ALTHOUGH THE UNHCR HAS YET TO RESPOND ON TAKING OVER THE OVERSEAS MALING SERVICES. MEANWHILE, COSTS OF POSTAGE ARE BORNE BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
1.4.
OUR FINAL COMMENT ON THE REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL REPORT REFERS TO THE PROPOSAL THAT A DELAY OF PERHAPS THREE YEARS IN THE RESETTLEMENT OF BOAT PEOPLE WOULD ACT AS A DETERRENT. WE FEAR THIS IS NOT BORNE OUT BY THE REALISTICS OF THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG AND WOULD BE SEEN MORE AS AN INVITATION THAN A DETTERRENT.
WILSON
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