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Reply:

Mr President,

(a) Many departments have recognised the need to improve their telephone enquiry systems to meet the needs of the public, particularly the elderly and new immigrants. At present there are eight computerised telephone enquiry systems which provide services in Putonghua. These include the Department of Health (on Aids counselling and pharmaceutical services), the Social Welfare, Regional Services, Labour, Census and Statistics and Civil Aviation Departments and the Office of the Telecommunications Authority. The Rating and Valuation and the Education Departments also plan to introduce Putonghua to their computerised telephone enquiry system during 1996.

Other departments which have a major interface with the public such as the Immigration, Legal Aid, Water Supplies and Customs and Excise Departments are also considering introducing this service in future.

(b) Training courses on handling telephone calls in Putonghua are being provided by the Government to personnel responsible for answering telephone enquiries.

(c) Where a computerised telephone enquiry system exists, the additional cost of adding Putonghua as a language is not substantial, although this does vary depending on the complexity of the programming work involved.

End

Pilot scheme to bring professionals from China

Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

The Government launched a pilot scheme in March 1994 under which 1,000 employment visas are to be issued to bring in professionals from China to fill professional and managerial vacancies in non-Chinese funded firms in the territory. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether: