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DHA and DB members visit service centre for new arrivals
The Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Shelley Lau, visited the International Social Service (ISS) Hong Kong Branch this (Thursday) morning to look at the services provided by the organisation for new arrivals from China.
The visit is part of Mrs Lau's on-going programme to visit organisations which provide services to new arrivals to familiarise them with Hong Kong's lifestyle and to facilitate their assimilation into the local community.
The Chairman of the Wan Chai District Board, Mrs Peggy Lam, and four DB members also joined today's visit at Mrs Lau's invitation.
Speaking to the media after the visit, Mrs Lau said the Governor stated in his Policy Address last month that the Government intended to expand orientation and information services for new arrivals to ease their process of integration into the community.
The Home Affairs Department (HAD) has been given direct responsibility for monitoring and assessing services for new arrivals.
Towards this end, Mrs Lau has set up a steering committee which she personally chairs.
"The HAD will enhance the co-ordination between government departments and voluntary organisations which provide services to the new arrivals.
"Through the District Officers' liaison network, we would try to make sure that these services reach those who need help and that groups which are especially at risk are identified and offered assistance.
"I think it is important that new arrivals know what services are available to them once they enter Hong Kong," Mrs Lau said.
HAD is now working with departments and organisations concerned to produce a handbook of services which will be distributed to new arrivals when they clear immigration on first landing. This handbook will complement a video, which the ISS will produce with HAD's assistance.