Boat People (Hansard, 10 June 1991)

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what date, given current progress, he expects to complete the screening of those boat people currently living in detention centres in Hong Kong, including the appeals against screening decisions.
411W

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The rate of screening depends on the rates of arrival and repatriation. Vietnamese migrants are currently screened approximately 24 months after their arrival in Hong Kong.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the conditions within detention centres and camps for boat people in Hong Kong.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Wherever possible, United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees' recommendations for camp conditions in respect of food, nutrition and water standards have been adopted.
Although it has not yet been possible to meet in full United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees' recommendation on space standards and toilet provisions, the opening of a new detention facility at Tai a Chau will enable further improvements to be made. The possibility of further improvements will depend mainly on the flow of new arrivals and the rate at which non-refugees can be returned to Vietnam.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts regarding an international solution to the problem of the Vietnamese boat people.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the recent joint declaration of the European Community-Association of South-East Asian Nations ministerial meeting held in Luxembourg on 30–31 May 1991, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what accommodation is provided for families in detention centres in Hong Kong.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Wherever possible, conditions within the 10 detention centres are in accordance with recommendations from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the reasons of those boat people who have refused voluntary repatriation from Hong Kong.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
There are many reasons why Vietnamese migrants have so far refused voluntary repatriation, but like many other non-refugees throughout the world it appears that the majority believe that they will ultimately be allowed to resettle in other countries. In the comprehensive plan of action, which was agreed to deal with this situation and which has recently been reconfirmed, it clearly states that all non-refugees must return to their country of origin.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many family groups with children are detained in camps in Hong Kong.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The information is not readily available.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many boat people have died in detention centres in Hong Kong since they were established; and if he will give their ages and causes of death.
412W

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Since the establishment of detention centres on 16 June 1988 there have been 78 deaths. The Hong Kong Government do not hold information on the ages and causes of death.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of boat people resident in detention centres in Hong Kong have taken the option of voluntary repatriation.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
There are currently fewer than 500 volunteers for repatriation in the camps in Hong Kong. This represents less than 1 per cent. of the current camp population.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many boat people are currently detained in camps in Hong Kong; and if he will give the numbers within the age groups(a) up to 12, (b) 12 to 21, (c) 21 to 40, (d) 40 to 60, and (e) 60 plus years old.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
On 5 June 1991 there were a total of 58,122 Vietnamese refugees and Vietnamese migrants in camps in Hong Kong.
Statistics are kept only on the ages of those determined to be non-refugees or who are awaiting screening. Of the 46,384 of these in camps on 2 May 1991, 2,030 were under one year old; 12,979 between one and 15; 29,149 between 16 and 39; 2,066 between 40 and 59; and 160, 60 and over.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to maintain contact with boat people repatriated to Vietnam from Hong Kong; and what information he has on their current condition in Vietnam.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, who is responsible for all post-return monitoring, recently reported that there have been no indications that any of the 8,500 returnees has suffered ill-treatment on return to Vietnam. This finding is corroborated by the British embassy in Hanoi which has its own limited monitoring programme.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of screening boat people giving figures for the numbers(a) screened, (b) granted refugee status, (c) denied refugee status, (d) who have appealed against the result of their screening, (e) of appeals that have been heard, and (f) of cases in which the appeal has decided in favour of the appellant.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
From the introduction of screening in Hong Kong on 16 June 1988 until 31 May 1991 a total of 24,299 boat people had been screened by the Hong Kong immigration department. Of these, 3,313 were granted and 20,986 denied refugee status. With only a very few exceptions, all appeal. Eighteen thousand, one hundred and twenty-two of these appeals have been heard, of which 2,538 were decided in favour of the appellant.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of orphaned children among the boat people detained in Hong Kong.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
No record is kept of the number of orphaned children in Hong Kong. All unaccompanied minors, whether or not orphans, are put in the care of a responsible adult while in Hong Kong.
413W

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provision is being made at the detention centres in Hong Kong for the provision of health care and education for detainees.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Wherever possible United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' recommendations for camp conditions have been adopted. Food is provided in accordance with dietary scales drawn up by Hong Kong Government dieticians and UNHCR technical advisers. Babies are provided with special clothing and all children receive personal sanitation items, such as soap, towels and tooth brushes. Well baby clinics are run by voluntary agencies to monitor the health of babies under the age of five and all children and babies receive a free immunisation service.
Education programmes run by voluntary agencies co-ordinated by UNHCR provide for pre-school education for children between the ages of 6 and 12 and secondary education between the ages of 12 and 16. There is a library in each camp and educational videos are shown.