XN000022-1990-04-27 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1990

"ONE PARTICULAR AREA WHERE THE AGENCIES PLAY AN IMPORTANT IS IN HELPING THE GOVERNMENT TO COPE WITH THE CONTINUING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE,' THE GOVERNOR SAID.

PART

INFLUX OF

"THEY MANAGE A RANGE OF ESSENTIAL SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES IN THE CAMPS, WHICH BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ARE KEEN TO ENCOURAGE, ** HE ADDED.

"ISS MAKES A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IN RUNNING A MAJOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR BUTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN MOST OF OUR CAMPS.

THROUGH THIS WORK ISS STAFF HAVE WON ENORMOUS RESPECT FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION.

"I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THOSE INVOLVED FOR WHAT THEY DO, SIR DAVID ADDED.

ON THE GOVERNMENT'S PART, SIR DAVID SAID TO ENSURE THAT OUR SOCIAL POLICIES AND STANDARDS CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF HONG KONG INTO THE 1990'S AND BEYOND, THE GOVERNMENT HAD LAUNCHED A MAJOR REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SUBVENTED SECTOR.

HE POINTED OUT THAT A WHITE PAPER SETTING OUT THE WAY FORWARD WOULD BE PUBLISHED AND ADDITIONAL FINANCE HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO REDUCE CASELOADS IN FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES AND SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS.

BUT THERE ARE LIMITS TO WHAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO, HE SAID.

SIR DAVID SAID THE CAUSES OF MIGRATION REMAINED MANY AND COMPLEX, ALTHOUGH THE TREMENDOUS STRAIN THAT MIGRATION IMPOSED ON THE FAMILY AND PARTICULARLY ON CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WAS CLEAR TO ALL.

"HENCE THE VALUE OF THE WORK OF ISS AND OTHER NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS IN THIS SPECIAL FIELD, PROVIDING NEW IMMIGRANTS WITH A OF POST-MIGRATION SERVICES SUCH AS MIGRATION COUNSELLING, ORIENTATION TUTORIAL GROUPS AND LANGUAGE CLASSES.

RANGE

"THIS IS

IS AN IMPORTANT TASK IN BUILDING IN HONG KONG AN INTEGRATED COMMUNITY THAT CAN NEVERTHELESS RETAIN ITS COSMOPOLITAN AND COLOURFUL DIVERSITY, SIR DAVID SAID.

THE GOVERNOR

SAID THE THEME OF THE

SYMPOSIUM "CHILDREN AND MIGRATION: A NEW CHALLENGE FOR WORLD-WIDE SOCIAL SERVICES" WAS A FITTING ONE.

"MOST APT TOO THAT THIS SYMPOSIUM COMES AT THE END OF THE ISS'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING EVER HELD IN HONG KONG, A CITY WHOSE ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE BEEN BASED SO MUCH UPON THE TALENTS ENDEAVOURS OF SUCCESSIVE WAVES OF IMMIGRANTS, SIR DAVID SAID.

...

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