XN000022-1988-11-02 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1988

ORIENTATION PROGRAMME BEING UNDERTAKEN FOR REFUGEES

THE GOVERNMENT, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IS EMBARKING ON A MAJOR ORIENTATION PROGRAMME FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY}.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LAU WONG-FAT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR BARNES STRESSED THAT THE PROGRAMME'S WOULD ENHANCE THE RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS OF REFUGEES.

BARNES,

IN THE SUCCESS

IT WOULD ALSO HELP THEM TO BECOME MORE PRODUCTIVE AND USEFUL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHILE AWAITING RESETTLEMENT.

OUTLINING THE MEASURES TAKEN TO HELP VIETNAMESE ADAPT TO THE LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLOSED CENTRES, MR BARNES SAID ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED TO BRIEF THEM ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF LIFE.

THE TOPICS INCLUDED LAW AND ORDER, ROAD SAFETY, INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, LABOUR RELATIONS, COMMUNITY RELATIONS, ANTI-CORRUPTION AND NARCOTICS.

"AT THE SAME TIME, UNHCR AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE CONDUCTING CULTURE ORIENTATION COURSES, HEALTH AND HYGIENE COURSES, CANTONESE CLASSES, FAMILIARISATION VISITS AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE REFUGEES, MR BARNES SAID.

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"AMONG THEM, THE CARITAS PLANS TO LAUNCH A HOST FAMILY PROJECT WHEREBY VOLUNTEER LOCAL FAMILIES WILL ENTERTAIN VIETNAMESE FAMILIES IN THEIR SPARE TIME WITH A VIEW TO PROMOTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY."

SOME AGENCIES WERE ALSO RUNNING A SOCIAL ADAPTATION PROGRAMME INCLUDING CANTONESE COURSES AND ORIENTATION VISITS, MR BARNES ADDED.

NOTING THAT MANY OF THESE PROGRAMMES WERE TAILOR-MADE TO SUIT PARTICULAR NEEDS, HE CITED THE JOB PLACEMENT AGENCY WHICH PROVIDED ESCORTS FOR REFUGEES GOING OUT TO WORK FOR AT LEAST A DAY OR TWO TO SORT OUT ANY ADAPTATION PROBLEMS WITH EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS.

"A NUMBER OF PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS ALSO OFFER TO PROVIDE ORIENTATION PROGRAMMES FOR THEIR VIETNAMESE EMPLOYEES, HE SAID.

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"LOCAL BANKS HAVE BEEN INVITED ΤΟ BRIEF REFUGEES ON THE BANKING FACILITIES TO WHICH THE REFUGEES WILL HAVE ACCESS, MR BARNES SAID, NOTING THAT THIS WOULD BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN THE REFUGEES STARTED EARNING MONEY.

MR BARNES SAID SOME OF THE PROGRAMMES WERE ALREADY UNDERWAY AND HE WAS PLEASED WITH THE CO-OPERATION RECEIVED SO FAR FROM THE AGENCIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

"I HOPE THAT THIS CO-OPERATION WILL CONTINUE BECAUSE HELP THE REFUGEES, THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ MANY OF THE PROBLEMS WHICH WE ARE NOW FACING," HE SAID.

IT WILL OVERCOME

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