HL Deb 30 November 1987 vol 490 cc918-9WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

By what legal authority the Government of Hong Kong holds Vietnamese refugees in indefinite detention.

Lord Glenarthur

Vietnamese refugees are detained in closed centres under provisions of the Hong Kong Immigration Ordinance.

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether education in the English language is available to (a) children and (b) adults among the Vietnamese refugees detained in Hong Kong.

Lord Glenarthur

English language education is available on a voluntary basis to all children and adults among the Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong, except those (currently six) in Victoria Prison.

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can confirm that there are 1,200 children, born and brought up in closed camps since 1982, among the Vietnamese refugees now detained in Hong Kong.

Lord Glenarthur

There are 1,482 children aged 16 and under in the closed centres, of whom 331 were born in Hong Kong.