XN000022-1996-06-19+20 — Page 6

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Handbook and video to assist new arrivals

About 100,000 copies of a handbook listing dedicated and general services for new arrivals from China will be available from today (Wednesday) to assist them in adapting to the local way of life and to meet their special needs.

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Distributing the first copy of the handbook at the Registration of Persons Kowloon Office in the Empire Centre today, the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Shelley Lau, said the handbook carried clearly indexed information on a wide range of services provided by government departments as well as voluntary agencies.

"We hope the handbook will be useful to the new arrivals-in helping them with their enquiries and obtaining the services they needed.

"We are keen to assist them in integrating into the local community as quickly as possible," she said.

The 105-page handbook published by the Home Affairs Department (HAD) contains concisely presented facts on social welfare, housing, education, employment, medical care, family planning, anti-corruption, transport, immigration and emergency services.

Written in simplified Chinese, the handbook also contained the addresses and telephone numbers of various government departments and public utility companies.

It will be available for collection from today at the Lo Wu Immigration check point, Registration of Persons - Kowloon Office in Empire Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui and all district offices.

HAD has been tasked with monitoring and assessing the services being provided for new arrivals from China since October last year following the increase in daily quota for one-way permit holders from 105 to 150 starting July 1995.

Meanwhile, a video aiming to promote the new arrivals' understanding of the general living condition and social services available for them was also shown in the Registration of Persons Office today.

Initiated by the Social Welfare Department, the video was produced by the International Social Service-Hong Kong (ISS-HK) a voluntary agency with extensive experience in providing services for new arrivals from China. It contains information on the wide range of services from government and non-governmental organisations available to them and to encourage them to seek help as early as possible.