XN000022-1990-05-02 — Page 26

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1990

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PUBLIC HOLIDAY FOR LEGCO ELECTION DAY BEING CONSIDERED

THE

GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING CAREFULLY THE QUESTION OF DESIGNATING THE 1991 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTION DAY AS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON DAVID CHEUNG, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NEED TO CONSIDER WHETHER DECLARING THE 1991 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTION DAY A PUBLIC HOLIDAY WOLLD ACHIEVE THE DESIRED OBJECTIVE OF ATTRACTING MORE ELECTORS ΤΟ VOTE IN THE ELECTIONS, AND HENCE BE JUSTIFIED ON THAT BASIS.

THIS WOULD NEED CAREFUL STUDY AND JUDGEMENT, SIR DAVID ADDED.

SOME 20,000 VBP TO TAKE PART IN SKILLS TRAINING

THE GOVERNMENT IS AIMING TO INVOLVE UP TO 20,000 VIETNAMESE ADULTS IN DETENTION CENTRES IN THE SKILLS TRAINING, WORK OR ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMMES THIS YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ACCOMMODATION IT HAS BEEN POSSIBLE TO EXPAND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCY PROGRAMMES,' MR ASPREY SAID IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ELSIE TU,

MR ASPREY SAID IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNHCR THE GOVERNMENT HAD ENCOURAGED THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXTENSION PROGRAMME OF SERVICES ΤΟ BOAT PEOPLE IN THE DETENTION CENTRES.

WERE SOCIAL SERVICES, EDUCATION, RECREATION, COTTAGE

THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THIS PROGRAMME FAMILY WELFARE, ADULT AND CHILDREN'S INDUSTRY AND SKILLS TRAINING.

MR ASPREY POINTED OUT THAT THE MAIN CONSTRAINT IN THE PROVISION OF THESE SERVICES WAS ACCOMMODATION.

"THE HIGH LEVEL OF VBP ARRIVALS DURING 1989 MEANT THAT THE CENTRES BECAME OVERCROWDED AND ACCOMMODATION NORMALLY USED FOR SERVICES HAD TO BE USED FOR ACCOMMODATION.

"THERE WAS CONSEQUENTLY SERIOUS DISRUPTION ΤΟ THE VOLUNTARY AGENCY PROGRAMMES, HE SAID.

YEAR,

NONETHELESS, MORE THAN 2,000 VBP HAD TAKEN PART IN A TRAINING PROGRAMME ORGANISED BY HONG KONG CHRISTIAN AID TO REFUGEES LAST MR ASPREY SAID.

/"THE SIX