§ Mr. Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese refugees are held in open and closed camps, respectively, in Hong Kong; what is the average length of time and the longest period, respectively, that refugees have been kept in closed camps under penal supervision; what effort has been made to settle refuges in other countries and to unite families; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonA total of 5,899 Vietnamese refugees are currently accommodated in open centres, and 6,018 in closed centres in Hong Kong. Those in closed centres are not under "penal supervision". The average length of stay in a closed centre is 17 months, and the longest stay so far is 30 months. We maintain a continuing dialogue with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other countries in order to find permanent solutions for all 211W the refugees who are at present in Hong Kong. We are most concerned about this problem and will continue to make every effort to solve it.
§ Mr. Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what review of Government policy on Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong has taken place since the treaty with China over the future of the colony; and if he will indicate the steps which have been taken under the treaty to safeguard the interests of stateless persons and political refugees.
§ Mr. RentonOur policy on Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong is kept under constant review. In the case of Vietnamese refugees the relevant legislation is the Hong Kong Immigration Ordinance, which contains a special provision under which Vietnamese refugees may be allowed to remain in Hong Kong pending their resettlement elsewhere. Under the terms of the agreement on the future of Hong Kong the ordinance, unless
Education Projects B6, B7, B8 and B9 English Language Primary No. 1 September 1981 No. 2 September 1982 3rd Report May 1984 Secondary No. 1 March 1982 No. 2 January 1983 Mathematics Primary No. 1 January 1980 No. 2 June 1981 No. 3 May 1982 Secondary No. 1 September 1980 No. 2 December 1981 No. 3 December 1982 Science Age 11 No. 1 December 1981 No. 2 September 1983 No. 3 May 1984 Age 13 No. 1 September 1982 No. 2 March 1984 Age 15 No. 1 December 1982 No. 2 April 1984 A report on Project B9 was published in 1983.