ENG-1990 — Page 437

POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION

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On January 19, 1990, approval was given for the creation of a new rank of chief immigration assistant to undertake most of the responsibilities previously carried out by assistant immigration officers. The restructuring, which involves delegation of less complex duties of the officer grade to the rank and file grade, is expected to take 4-5 years to complete. On completion, the rank of assistant immigration officer will be abolished.

Staff Training

The department provides training for both new and serving officers. Immigration assistant recruits undergo a 12-week induction training which covers law, immigration policies and procedures, drill, physical training, swimming, first-aid and practical attachments. As part of the career development programme, in-service and specialised training is provided within the department and in outside organisations.

During the year, 229 recruits completed their induction training. A further 2 116 serving officers received various types of job-related, management and continuation training, in- cluding 12 officers selected for overseas attachment and training in the United Kingdom, the United States, Netherlands, Germany, France and Japan.

Vietnamese Boat People

Hong Kong has maintained a policy of first asylum since 1975 and no asylum seeker has ever been turned away. However, this policy has imposed an enormous burden on our community. During the mid-1980s it became increasingly clear that the great majority of Vietnamese boat people (VBP) arriving in Hong Kong were not fleeing persecution and hence were not refugees under the accepted UN definition. The Hong Kong Government therefore decided that it could no longer grant refugee status automatically and that a status determination (or screening) procedure should be implemented to distinguish gen- uine refugees from economic migrants.

Since June 16, 1988, all VBP arriving in Hong Kong have been subject to screening. These procedures have had some effect in discouraging non-refugees from setting out from Vietnam to come to Hong Kong. During 1990, only 6 599 arrived, compared with over 18 000 who arrived in 1988 and over 34 000 in 1989.

The screening procedures are carried out by Immigration Officers working under guide- lines drawn up by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Those asylum seekers screened-in as refugees are housed in open centres await- ing resettlement, while those screened-out as non-refugees are held in detention centres pending their repatriation to Vietnam. Screened-out VBP have the right to have their cases reviewed by an independent Refugee Status Review Board if they apply within 28 days of receiving notice of determination. Officials of the UNHCR are involved in monitoring the screening procedures and preparing appeals to the Review Board.

Since the introduction of screening in June 1988, 19 969 people have been screened, of whom 2 616 have been screened-in as refugees and 17 353 have been screened-out. At the appeal stage in 5954 cases involving 13 826 persons the first instance decision has been upheld and in 527 cases involving 1 401 people it has been reversed.

Refugees in the open centres have complete freedom of movement and are allowed to take up employment outside their camps. Social, educational and recreational activities and skill training programmes are provided by voluntary agencies subvented by the