大鴉洲羈留中心

1989 to 1996

Closed Camp

More than 5000 Refugees

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Tai A Chau is one of the Soko Islands, South-West Hong Kong. It is an area known for its marine biodiversity:. It was also an important area for fishing and fish farming. In the early 1980s, there were plans to turn the area into a tourist destination but in 1989 the island was used a camp for asylum seekers instead. When the Vietnamese arrived on the island, the island was uninhabited with no fresh water

supply, food, and toilet facilities.

There was a malaria and cholera outbreak, as well as other cotangent disease on the island due to poor hygiene

condition and limited food and water supply. The asylum seekers did not receive hot meals for months due to the lack of cooking facilities. On 27 August 1989, there was a major protest on Tai A Chau against insufficient food ration, which turned into a violent riot. The police lost control and had to flee the island. The next morning, with the help of British soldiers, the police were able to regain control of the island.

By 1993, the situation improved. In addition to more permanent dormitory structures, the asylum seekers were engaged with fisheries, poultry raising and farming activities. There were also schools and training facilities on the island.Compared to other large closed camps such as White Head, the asylum seekers’ movement on Tai A Chau was also less restricted.

By the mid-1990s, it was even being described as a relatively pleasant place by the UNHCR. The asylum seekers were also subsidizing their food ration through farming and fisheries. The fact that the island was no longer use to house both North and South Vietnamese also reduced conflicts.