XN000022-1992-04-29 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1992

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**THIS WOULD CONSIST PARTLY OF LOWER RATES REVENUE FOR THE GOVERNMENT, AND PARTLY OF PAYMENTS TO THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS TO OFFSET THE REDUCTION IN THEIR RATES REVENUE. ONLY ABOUT 6 PER CENT OF DOMESTIC HOUSEHOLDS WOULD BENEFIT FROM SUCH AN EXTENSION," HE SAID.

MR YEUNG SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FORECAST THE HYPOTHETICAL EFFECTS ON GENERAL REVENUE OF EXTENDING THE EXISTING RATES RELIEF SCHEME UNTIL 1996-97.

"THE FORECASTS IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS ALREADY ASSUME THE CESSATION OF THE RATES RELIEF SCHEME, MR YEUNG SAID.

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GOVT PLANNING TAKES INTO ACCOUNT NEEDS OF CHINA IMMIGRANTS

THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS FACED BY NEW IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA INCLUDE LANGUAGE, ADJUSTMENT TO THE LOCAL CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE, SCHOOLING OF CHILDREN, AND EMPLOYMENT, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

TO HELP THEM OVERCOME THEIR DIFFICULTIES, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED COUNSELLING SERVICE AND OTHER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES THROUGH THE 53 GOVERNMENT-RUN AND SUBVENTED FAMILIES SERVICES CENTRES IN THE TERRITORY, SIR DAVID SAID IN REPLY TO A WRITTEN QUESTION BY DR THE HON CONRAD K.S. LAM.

SPECIAL SERVICES DIRECTED AT NEW CHINESE IMMIGRANTS ARE ALSO PROVIDED THROUGH SUBVENTED AGENCIES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES TO NEW IMMIGRANTS.

THESE INCLUDE MIGRATION COUNSELLING, BRIEFINGS AND FILM SHOWS TO HELP IMMIGRANTS INTEGRATE INTO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY; CANTONESE AND ENGLISH CLASSES, AND ORIENTATION TUTORIAL GROUPS FOR CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES; AND A TRAVELLERS' AID SERVICE COUNTER AT HUNG HOM RAILWAY STATION TO HELP NEW ARRIVALS TO CONTACT THEIR FAMILIES AND RELATIVES, AS WELL AS GIVING GENERAL ADVICE AND HELP.

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT,

IN PLANNING FUTURE PROVISION OF EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND ELDERLY SERVICES, AS WELL AS OTHER SERVICES AND FACILITIES, TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE IMPACT OF CHINESE IMMIGRANTS ON LOCAL POPULATION PROJECTION AND DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE TO ENSURE THAT THEIR NEEDS WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE PROJECTED DEMAND FOR SERVICES.

"THE DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF THE IMMIGRANTS, THE TYPES OF SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE THEY COMMONLY SEEK FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, AND STATISTICS COLLECTED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HELP TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LIFE AND NEEDS OF NEW IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA," HE SAID.

YEARS.

THERE ARE 81,953 NEW IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA IN THE PAST THREE

/DISTRIBUTION OF

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