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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986
ON WHAT COUNSELLING FACILITIES THE GOVERNMENT HAD PROVIDED TO ASSIST THE IMMIGRANTS IN SEEKING EMPLOYMENT, FURTHERING THE IR STUDIES AND ADAPTING TO THE NEW ENVIRONMENT, MR JE AFFRE SON SAID IN GENERAL TERMS, THE IMMIGRANTS COULD MAKE USE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF SERVICES, INCLUDING COUNSELLING, THAT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDED FOR EVERYONE IN HONG KONG.
BESIDES, THERE WERE SERVICES SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED AT MIGRANTS.
+ONE-WAY PERMIT HOLDERS ARRIVING AT LO WU ARE GIVEN THE ADDRESSES OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S OFFICES WHERE THEY CAN GO TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT, HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, ONE OF THE SUBVENTED VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE, HAD A DESK AT HUNG HOM RAILWAY STATION FOR ITS STAFF ENGAGED IN COUNSELLING IMMIGRANTS AS THEY ARRIVED THERE.
INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE ALSO HAD AN OFFICE IN NEW RODNEY BLOCK, QUEENSWAY, IN WHICH STAFF BRIEFED THE MIGRANTS ON SOCIAL SERVICES AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG AND SHOWED FILMS DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE THE IMMIGRANTS TO HONG KONG.
THE ORGANISATION PROVIDED OTHER FACILITIES FOR CANTONESE CLASSES AND SESSIONS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO HELP THE IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR CHILDREN ADAPT THEMSELVES TO HONG KONG.
IT ALSO RAN A 24-HOUR TELEPHONE +HOTLINE+ THROUGH WHICH IMMIGRANTS COULD CONTACT STAFF FOR ADVICE AT ANY TIME.
MR JE AFFRESON ALSO GAVE THE NUMBER OF LEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO HAD ARRIVED IN HONG KONG DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS - 25 714 IN 1983; 27 612 IN 1984 27 153 IN 1985 AND 13 178 IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 1986.
SMALL NUMBER OF TUNNEL TOLL EVASION CASES *****
THE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF CASES WHERE VEHICLES HAVE MADE USE OF THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL WITHOUT PAYING THE TOLL FEE, BUT THE NUMBER OF TOLL EVASION CASES IS VERY SMALL, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON HARNAM GREWAL, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON RICHARD LAI, MR GREWAL SAID IN 1985 THERE WERE ONLY 191 EVASION CASES, AND THE CROSS- HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY FAILED TO RECOVER TOLL AND TAX IN ONLY TWO CASES. THE FINANCIAL LOSS WAS $14.
MR GREWAL
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