XN000022-1996-11-13 — Page 24

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Financial assistance for Chinese language classes in UK

Following is a question by the Hon Lo Suk-ching and a reply by the acting Secretary for Trade and Industry, Mr Tam Wing-pong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Among the Chinese residing in the United Kingdom (UK), many are second or third generation descendants of indigenous villagers of the New Territories and have a close relationship with Hong Kong. The Liaison Section of the London Office of the Hong Kong Government previously granted subsidies to the Chinese schools in the UK for the provision of Chinese language education. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:

(a)

(b)

(c)

Answer:

of the amount of subsidies granted to the Chinese schools in the UK in each of the past five years;

whether the London Office's decision to cease granting subsidies to these Chinese schools and to dissolve the Liaison Section is related to the return of the territory's sovereignty to China; and

whether it will consider resuming the granting of subsidies to these Chinese schools, so that future generations of the indigenous villagers of the New Territories residing in the UK are equipped with sufficient proficiency in the Chinese language to serve the community upon their return to Hong Kong?

The scheme to provide assistance to Chinese community language classes in the UK by the London Office started in the late 1960s as a community service in response to requests made by immigrants from Hong Kong to the UK who had difficulty in finding schools providing lesson for their children to learn the Chinese language. Help was rendered by way of supplying classes organized by local organizations, usually held on weekends, with Chinese language textbooks which were in short supply in those days and some cash subsidies which was no more than a token of appreciation for the services provided for the community. The expenditure incurred in providing such financial assistance during the last five-year period before the phasing out of the scheme are given as below: