ENG-1989 — Page 405

POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION

348

Establishment and Recruitment

At year end, the department had an establishment of 3 546 disciplined staff, 304 more than in 1988. The number of civilian staff was 2 471. During the year, 198 assistant immigration officers and 435 immigration assistants were recruited.

Approval was being sought for the creation of a new rank of chief immigration assistant to undertake most of the responsibilities carried out by assistant immigration officers. The restructuring, which involved delegation of less complex duties of the immigration officer grade to the immigration assistant grade, enabled officers to concentrate on more important tasks and enhanced the job content and career prospects of the immigration assistant grade, thereby alleviating staff retention problems to a certain extent.

Staff Training

The department provides training for both new and serving officers. Assistant immigration officer recruits undergo a 17-week induction course while immigration assistant recruits undergo an eight-week course. These courses cover law, immigration policies and pro- cedures, drill, physical training, swimming, first-aid and practical attachments. As part of the career development programme, in-service and specialised training is also provided either within the department or in outside organisations. Each year, a number of officers are selected for overseas attachment and training.

During the year, 669 recruits completed their induction training. A further 1 875 serving officers received various types of job-related and continuation training.

Vietnamese Boat People

During 1989, 34 116 Vietnamese boat people arrived in Hong Kong, compared with 18 352 who arrived in 1988 and 3 395 in 1987.

Prior to June 16, 1988, all Vietnamese boat people (VBP) arriving in Hong Kong were automatically given refugee status and were therefore available for resettlement. During the mid-1980's it became increasingly clear that the great majority of VBP arriving in Hong Kong did not have a well-founded fear of persecution in Vietnam and were therefore not entitled to refugee status. Departures from Vietnam appeared to be motivated principally by the desire for resettlement, rather than asylum, and resettlement countries were becoming increasingly reluctant to take people from Hong Kong. In 1988, 18 352 VBP arrived but only 2 772 were resettled; in 1989, 34 116 VBP arrived and 4 754 were resettled. The Hong Kong Government therefore decided that it could no longer grant refugee status automatically and that a status-determination (screening) procedure should be implemented.

From June 16, 1988, all VBP arriving in Hong Kong have been subject to screening procedures. These procedures were slightly amended following an agreement between the government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in September 1988. They have since been streamlined to cope with the very large case-load of over 40 000 boat people now in Hong Kong.

The objective in operating the screening and appeals procedures is to identify genuine refugees. In practice this means that a large measure of the benefit of the doubt must be given to Vietnamese claiming refugee status with the result that there are probably a great many more successful claims than would be warranted by a strict application of the UNHCR criteria. The government is committed to the operation of fair status determination procedures and to granting refugee status to all VBP arriving in Hong Kong with a reasonable claim.

Page 405Page 406