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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1983
MEASURES TO HELP NEW ARRIVALS OUTLINED
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN TAKING VARIOUS MEASURES TO HELP NEW ARRIVALS FROM CHINA ASSIMILATE THEMSELVES INTO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DAVID AKERS-JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
POINTING OUT THAT HONG KONG HAD ABSORBED AND ACCOMMODATED VAST NUMBERS OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE PAST 30 YEARS, HE STRESSED THAT THEY WERE TREATED AS EQUAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, ENJOYING ITS BENEFITS AND SHARING ITS BURDENS.
+WE MAKE NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN A NEW ARRIVAL AND A LONG-TERM RESIDENT IN THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION, WELFARE, AND MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES; WHILE, IN ADDITION, MUCH HAS BEEN AND IS BEING DONE TO IMPROVE THE SQUATTER AREAS IN WHICH MANY NEW ARRIVALS LIVE.+
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ANDREW SO, MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE MAJOR PROBLEMS FACED BY THE NEW ARRIVALS WERE HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT AND LANGUAGE.
+HOUSING IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND MANY NEW ARRIVALS HAVE FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER RESORTED TO BUILDING SQUATTER HUTS ON THE HILLSIDES, AND IN SO DOING HAVE, TO SOME EXTENT, ALIENATED THEMSELVES FROM THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY,
HE SAID.
+EMPLOYMENT HAS SO FAR NOT BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF JOBS AVAILABLE IN THE MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES DURING THE PERIOD 1979 TO MID-1982.
+THE LANGUAGE BARRIER IS OVERCOME BY NEW ARRIVALS THROUGH DAILY ACQUAINTANCE WITH CANTONESE.+
MR AKERS-JONES CONTINUED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD ASSISTED VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH RUN COURSES TO HELP NEW ARRIVALS.
+THE DISTRICT OFFICES THROUGH COMMUNITY BUILDING PROGRAMMES HAVE HELPED TO ESTABLISH MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND FIRE WATCH TEAMS IN THE AREAS, HE SAID.
+THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO SQUATTER AREAS, AND MANY RESIDENTS HAVE MOBILISED THEMSELVES TO CLEAN UP THE IR OWN SURROUNDINGS.
+ IN ADDITION, THE WONG TAI SIN AND THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICES HAVE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, STARTED ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES FOR NEW ARRIVALS.
+WONG TAI SIN, KWUN TONG AND OTHER DISTRICT BOARDS ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ASSIMILATION PROCESS THROUGH THE PROVISION OF FUNDS TO ORGANISE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN WHICH NEW ARRIVALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE,+ MR AKERS-JONES SAID.