XN000022-1996-01-10 — Page 42

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29.

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(b)

(c)

(d)

One-way permits are issued by the Chinese Government to Chinese citizens for settlement in Hong Kong, majority of whom arrive for family re-unification. In reaching the understanding with China to increase the daily quota to 150 with effect from 1 July 1995, both sides have agreed specific sub-quotas for children and spouses.

We have raised with the Chinese side that allocation of one-way permits should as far as possible be made on the basis of using whole families as basic units so as to avoid split families. In regular meetings between the Director of Immigration and Director of the Bureau of Exit/Entry Administration, Ministry of Public Security, we have reiterated our concern over the splitting of families by the issue of one way permit to either the spouse or the child.

It is our aim to integrate new immigrants from China into the local community as quickly as possible. Since they will become members of our community upon arrival in Hong Kong, their general needs will be taken into account by the respective policy franches in overall planning and provision of services. The majority of new immigrants are able to integrate without difficulty. However, we are aware that some new arrivals may need special assistance. The Home Affairs Department is tasked to co-ordinate and assess services which the Government departments and voluntary agencies are providing for new arrivals. The findings and assessment will be fed to policy branches to assist them in planning and providing respective services for new immigrants.