status based on a well founded fear of persecution. The criteria for screening were based on guidelines laid down by the UNHCR under the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the status of refugees. The procedures are operated in cooperation with the UNHCR. Those who are found not to be refugees are held in a detention centre pending their repatriation to Vietnam. Those people who are determined to have refugee status are moved to a refugee camp to await resettlement. Conditions in the closed camps established under the policy introduced in 1982 are being gradually liberalised. Adults are able to go out to work and children to study in schools under the auspices of the UNHCR. On full liberalisation, refugees will be able to leave the centres without supervision.
Present position
9.
A total of 18,325 boat people arrived in Hong Kong in 1988, over twice the number in any single year since 1979. In the first two months of 1989, a further 470 arrived.
10.
Following the introduction of the new screening policy, a total of 1,008 boat people had completed the determination procedures by 1 March 1989: 84 of them were granted refugee status. There were then a total of 25,966 boat people in Hong Kong (including babies born in the territory): 15,037 of these had refugee status, 924 had been screened out and 10,005 had still to complete the determination procedures. As at 1 February 1989, 3,344 refugees had been in Hong Kong for over 3 years and 2,938 for over 5 years.
11.
The various categories of boat people are now accommodated in the following refugee camps and detention centres:
Refugee camps
Population (as at 1 March 1989)
Kai Tak Transit Centre
2,458
Tuen Mun
2,929
San Yick
2,759
Pillar Point
1,659
Shamshuipo
5,075
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