- 19.
I took over responsibility for the RPIS Minor Works in August 1994. We have already made swift and effective progress in speeding up the implementation of the Minor Works, in no small part due to our long and close links with the rural community. Since taking over, we have introduced a two-tier committee system to encourage local participation and to involve the rural community more closely in the Minor Works programme. The central Steering Committee, chaired by the Director of Home Affairs and comprising New Territories (NT) District Board Chairmen, Heung Yee Kuk representatives and senior Government departmental officials, is tasked with overseeing the general implementation of the RPIS Minor Works programme and offering advice and assistance to help speed up the programme's implementation. To complement this, each NT District Officer chairs a District Working Group, comprising local leaders and Government representatives, which is responsible for overseeing the programme within its district, setting district priorities for projects and assisting to overcome any objections or disputes arising from implementation of the projects.
New Arrivals
Lastly, I would like to turn to the subject of services provided to new arrivals from China and explain how we plan to monitor and assess the services provided to them, so that their needs are met as far as possible.
The most frequent problems facing new arrivals are educational needs, language training, social services, as well as their lack of familiarity with Hong Kong generally. The Government is anxious to ensure that Hong Kong continues with its fine tradition of integrating new arrivals into the wider community. To this end, we are already subventing the International Social Service - Hong Kong Branch (ISS) to run a Traveller's Aid Desk at the Kowloon Railway Station where new arrivals are helped to make contact with their relatives and given general information on the social services available. The ISS also operates an office at the Immigration Department so that when the new immigrants apply for their Hong Kong Identity Cards, they have another opportunity to seek assistance and be referred to relevant social services.
Regarding education, support services are available to help children of new immigrants to adapt to Hong Kong. These include induction and remedial English programmes organised by agencies, remedial teaching and special counselling services provided by schools.