XN000022-1994-11-02 — Page 36

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REPLY:

(C)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1994

J

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER INTRODUCING SPECIFIC MEASURES TO STOP SUCH ACTIVITIES?

MR PRESIDENT,

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT THE EXISTING ADMISSION OF WORKERS FROM CHINA FOR TRAINING PURPOSE

THE ANSWERS TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ARE

THE ABUSED.

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POLICY ON IS BEING

(A)

UNDER THE EXISTING POLICY, A PERSON MAY BE ALLOWED TO ENTER AND STAY IN HONG KONG FOR UP TO 12 MONTHS TO ACQUIRE SPECIAL SKILLS OR KNOWLEDGE NOT AVAILABLE AT HIS PLACE OF DOMICILE. THIS OFTEN INVOLVES ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AT PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT. TO PREVENT ABUSE, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, IN VETTING APPLICATIONS FOR TRAINING VISAS, REQUIRES THE SPONSORING COMPANIES TO PROVIDE TRAINING PROGRAMMES AND JUSTIFICATIONS FOR SUCH TRAINING IN HONG KONG AND ITS DURATION. IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT EXAMINES THE BACKGROUND OF THE COMPANIES TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE INDEED ABLE AND COMPETENT то PROVIDE SUCH TRAINING, THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF THE POLICY BEING ABUSED BY EMPLOYERS.

(B)

GOVERNMENT IS NOT AWARE ANY SUCH ABUSES, SO THERE IS NO QUESTION OF WARNING OR PROSECUTION.

(C)

WHERE

THE

ABUSED SPONSORING COMPANIES ARE FOUND TO HAVE POLICY, THEIR FUTURE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ASSESSED IN THE LIGHT OF THESE RECORDS.

SPERCH EXPENDITURE WELL-SPENT

FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HUANG CHEN-YA AND A WRITTEN REPLY BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON MRS ANSON CHAN, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

QUESTION: WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL:

(A)

WHAT IS THE RESPECTIVE AVERAGE COST OF THE SPEECHES MADE BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AT PUBLIC FORUMS IN THE TERRITORY AND AT OVERSEAS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES DURING 1993/94, AND WHAT IS THE RESPECTIVE TOTAL ANNUAL COST OF SUCH SPEECHES; AND

/(B)

WHETHER SUCH