XN000022-1986-11-19 — Page 27

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1986

25

IMMIGRATION EXTENSION OF STAY PROCEDURES STREAMLINED

*****

THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE LOOKING FOR WAYS OF IMPROVING THE SERVICE PROVIDED TO CHINESE TEMPORARY RESIDENTS APPLYING FOR AN EXTENSION OF STAY, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON CHIU HIN-KWONG,

MR JE AFFRE SON SAID THERE WAS GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A TEMPORARY ONE AND THAT NEXT YEAR THE QUEUES WOULD START TO SHORTEN.

+TO MINIMISE THE INCONVENIENCE TO THOSE APPLICANTS WHO CANNOT BE DEALT WITH ON THE SAME DAY THEY ATTEND, THE DEPARTMENT GIVES THEM AN APPOINTMENT TO RETURN ON A LATER DAY, HE SAID.

MR JE AFFRE SON SAID THAT SINCE APRIL THE DEPARTMENT HAD DEPLOYED 30 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS TO REINFORCE THE STAFF AT THE OFFICE IN NEW RODNEY BLOCK.

THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO MANAGED TO STREAMLINE PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH APPLICATIONS, QUEUES WERE BETTER CONTROLLED, AND AIR CONDITIONING HAD BEEN IMPROVED TO MAKE THE MORE CROWDED CONDITIONS LESS UNCOMFORTABLE.

+ THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS HANDLED BY THE CHINESE EXTENSION SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT AT THE NEW RODNEY BLOCK WAS 2 500 PER DAY THIS YEAR,+ HE ADDED.

OFFENDERS GIVEN HELP TO CUT TRIAD LINKS *****

YOUNG OFFENDERS WITH TRIAD OR GANG AFFILIATIONS ARE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY, ASSISTANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT IN ALL THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES TO HELP THEM SEVER THEIR TRIAD LINKS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

+TO THIS END, YOUNG OFFENDERS IN CUSTODY ARE GIVEN COMPULSORY EDUCATION AND COUNSELLING, WHICH SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN BOTH THEIR SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THEIR VOCATIONAL SKILLS, HE SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN.

HE STRESSED THAT UPON RELEASE, YOUNG OFFENDERS WOULD HAVE AFTER-CARE SUPERVISION, WHERE COUNSELLING, ADVICE AND JOB PLACEMENT WAS GIVEN TO HELP THEM OVERCOME PERSONAL PROBLEMS AFTER RELEASE.

/MR JEAFTRESON