XN000022-1988-01-13 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1988

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WELFARE SERVICES FOR CHINA IMMIGRANTS

NEW IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA CAN MAKE USE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF WELFARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

TAM, MR

TOWARDS WAS TO

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO THE QUESTION BY THE HON ROSANNA CHAMBERS SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S BASIC POLICY OBJECTIVE INTEGRATING NEW IMMIGRANTS INTO THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY PROVIDE THEM WITH AN AWARENESS OF LOCAL SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND ΤΟ CREATE A GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, SO AS TO DISPEL ANY SENSE OF ALIENATION.

"TO HELP THEM OVERCOME ADJUSTMENT DIFFICULTIES ARISING FROM FACTORS SUCH AS LOW ACADEMIC STANDARDS, LACK OF SKILLS, AND LANGUAGE PROBLEMS, SOCIAL WORKERS IN WELFARE CENTRES ALSO ORGANISE GROUP PROGRAMMES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

"

"IN PARTICULAR, SUCH PROGRAMMES ARE PROVIDED IN DISTRICTS WITH HIGHER THAN AVERAGE CONCENTRATIONS OF NEW IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

NO

MR CHAMBERS ADDED THAT SOCIAL SERVICES WERE OFFERED TO ALL AND DISTINCTION WAS MADE BETWEEN NEW IMMIGRANTS AND LONGER-TERM

RESIDENTS.

OF

"APART FROM THE FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES AND GROUP WORK UNITS FHE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, SUBVENTIONS ON A 100 PER CENT SUPPORT BASIS ARE GRANTED TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE 26 FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES TO HELP RESIDENTS AND NEW IMMIGRANTS ALIKE.

"THERE ARE ALSO 13 SUBVENTED COMMUNITY CENTRES WHICH PROVIDE SIMILAR SERVICES,' HE SAID.

·

CHINESE

AS REGARDS SUBVENTED SERVICES SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED AT IMMIGRANTS, MR CHAMBERS SAID INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE (ISS) OFFERED MIGRATION COUNSELLING, AND PROVIDED BRIEFINGS AND FILM SHOWS DESIGNED TO HELP IMMIGRANTS UNDERSTAND COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND THE SOCIAL SERVICES AVAILABLE HERE.

"IT ALSO ORGANISES CANTONESE AND

ENGLISH CLASSES AND

ORIENTATION TUTORIAL GROUPS FOR CHILDREN OF THESE FAMILIES.

"THE 1SS TRAVELLERS' AID SERVICE COUNTER AT HUNG HOM RAILWAY STATION HELPS NEW ARRIVALS TO CONTACT THEIR FAMILIES AND RELATIVES, AND GIVES GENERAL ADVICE AND HELP, HE SAID.

"I

MR CHAMBERS SAID THE SUBVENTIONS AND LOTTERIES FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD SUGGESTED A SLIGHTLY HIGHER SUBVENTION IN 1988/89 FOR THE POST-MIGRATION SERVICE OF 1SS THAN IN 1987/88.

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