HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 18 October 1989
香港立法局 ——一九八九年十月十八日
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MISS TAM: Sir, it is a highly unsatisfactory state of affairs that pamphlets could be brought into Whitehead, Chi Ma Wan and Sek Kong Detention Centres by visitors to invite the detainees to go on a "hunger strike" and thus creating even more pressure on our correctional services staff and police force in their already very difficult and strenuous task of maintaining law and order in the detention centres. Apparently the purpose of this "hunger strike" is to exert pressure on the Hong Kong community by staging a protest against the possible introduction of mandatory repatriation of Vietnamese boat people. Let me first say that I see no change in the Hong Kong community or this Council's resolve to attain mandatory repatriation of the Vietnamese boat people. Our law enforcement agencies do have our support in tackling their difficult tasks, especially during these "hunger strikes".
Today, the non-government members of this Council will support the Immigration (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill to go through its First and Second Reading, Committee stage and Third Reading all in one sitting. This will enable 16 centres now occupied by Vietnamese boat people or Vietnamese illegal immigrants to be designated as detention centres controlled under proper disciplinary rules. Ever since 16 June 1988, as the Secretary for Security has told us, we had over 42 000 Vietnamese illegal immigrants arriving in Hong Kong. Many centres were set up within a very short time to accommodate them. These new centres do not fall within the existing first schedule of the Immigration (Places of Detention) Order which provides that "a person detained in any place set out in the first schedule shall receive the same treatment as that which is accorded to a person committed to prison for safe conduct in any of the rules". In these new Vietnamese illegal immigrant centres, there are no rules to allow for the control of conduct and the maintenance of order and discipline among Vietnamese illegal immigrants, and no rules to provide for the management and security of the centres. At times we can see on television that foodstuff and other matters were thrown by persons outside of the camp into the camp ground. We have also read newspaper reports about Vietnamese illegal immigrants leaving the camps without the approval of the authority to pursue their illegal or social activities.
An ad hoc group was set up to study the Bill and we met with the Administration to raise questions on some of its provisions.
Frankly we questioned whether the maximum penalty of $5,000 fine and six months' imprisonment for the offence of breaking the rules is sufficient (if at all) deterrent to the detainees, some of whom apparently have no money. Also they are used to being detained. The Administration accepts that may be a loss of privilege and that would be a deterrent. Also, to be separated from one's own family would also act as a deterrent. The ad hoc group believes that although
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