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The Administration is pleased that the Pillar Point Vietnamese Refugees Centre (PPVRC) was closed in a peaceful and dignified manner at midnight yesterday (May 31), the Secretary for Security, Mrs Regina Ip, said today (June 1).
"The Vietnamese boat people saga has lingered on for a quarter of a century, and the time is now ripe to close this chapter of the history with vision and determination," she said.
She was referring to the Government's decision to close PPVRC after making an offer for the Vietnamese refugees (VRs) and migrants (VMs) stranded here to settle in Hong Kong on humanitarian grounds.
Throughout the past 25 years, Hong Kong had acted in accordance with UNHCR criteria and international practices on dealing with refugees.
"We have not turned away a single refugee boat. Nor have we ever turned away from Hong Kong any person who has nowhere else to go. We are not leaving anybody out there in a limbo. The Vietnamese refugee population accommodated by us is bigger than all Asian countries combined.
"But as the HKSAR Government helps the Vietnamese, we also expect them to help themselves. After all this is what the Widened Local Resettlement Scheme (WLRS) is about," she stressed.
Turning to the slight commotion at the site shortly after midnight and the sit-in by VRs and VMs at the Central Government Offices today, Mrs Ip stressed that while they were free to express their views, they must do so in a peaceful and lawful manner.
"As the Vietnamese now enjoy the same rights as other Hong Kong people, they must also shoulder the same responsibilities," she said, adding that the Police was on stand by, ready to restore law and order whenever necessary.
She acknowledged the work being done by Civil Aid Service (CAS) and the Police, saying that it was important for integration of the Vietnamese.
"We urge the Vietnamese to act rationally and be prepared to integrate fully. A thousand other Vietnamese have already arranged their own accommodation in the past three months and are standing on their own feet," she added.
"So far, we have done a remarkable job in assisting occupants to move out," she said.
The number of occupants of the former PPVRC stood at 1100 when the Government announced the WLRS on February 22 this year. The number dropped to 536 a week ago and went further down to 137 this morning.
"We expect more to leave voluntarily within the next few days," she said.
Noting that over one-third of the residual occupants are male and aged between 18 to 50, Mrs Ip said many of them in fact had or were capable of securing employment.
"The Labour Department is ready to provide counselling service to the Vietnamese. In addition, I would like to appeal to the Hong Kong community, including prospective employers, not to discriminate ex-PPVRC occupants", she continued.
Even though the PPVRC is closed, Caritas-Hong Kong the former camp management - is still available to provide assistance to the residual occupants who claim hardship, need counselling or require assistance for moving out.
For this purpose, Caritas is operating a Social Service Unit at Tuen Mun Government Offices.
So far, $1.93 million removal allowance has been paid out to the former PPVRC residents. Moreover, 277 Vietnamese in genuine hardship have been granted either Comprehensive Social Security Allowance or compassionate rehousing, or both.
End/Thursday, June 1, 2000
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