XN000022-1997-03-20 — Page 5

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A Steering Committee, chaired by the Director of Home Affairs and attended by representatives of relevant policy branches, departments and non-governmental organisations, has also been established to enhance services for the newcomers in a co- ordinated manner.

Outlining the breakdown of the draft expenditure for new arrivals, Mrs Lau said HAD would be allocated $5.28 million for additional staff to help monitor and assess the services provided to new arrivals, as well as to conduct surveys on new arrivals and assist in the production of the service handbook.

Meanwhile, the Education Department will spend about $168 million to provide more classes and services for new immigrant students. This represents an increase of more than 150 per cent over this year's expenditure.

The Labour Department will also set aside $1.66 million to strengthen employment and career retraining services for new arrivals.

The Social Welfare Department will earmark $3.53 million to subsidise the International Social Service (ISS) for providing post-migration.services for new arrivals. This shows an increase of 36 per cent as compared with that of this year.

Prior to the press conference, Mrs Lau visited a Cantonese class organised by the ISS Hong Kong Branch for new arrivals.

She distributed to the participants the latest edition of a handbook outlining a range of services for them offered by the Government and non-governmental organisations. She also gave them a Budget pamphlet to help them get a basic idea of Hong Kong Government's tax system and how public money will be spent.

"This is one of my regular visits to centres offering services for new arrivals. It is useful in understanding the feelings and needs of new arrivals, and in gathering views from non-governmental organisations and Government departments in the provision of services for new arrivals," Mrs Lau said.

"We will continue to review whether and what improvements can be made to existing services," she stressed.

End