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ACCORDANCE WITH THE RATES PRESCRIBED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND ARE PROVIDED WITH PRE-SERVICE AND IN-SERVICE TEACHER TRAINING COURSES. THERE ARE 69 REFUGEES INVOLVED IN EDUCATION IN THE CLOSED CENTRES. OF THIS FIGURE, 14 ARE WORKING IN BOWRING: 21 IN CHI MA WAN: 23 IN HEI LING CHAU: AND 11 IN CAPE COLLINSON.
(E) WE AGREE WITH YOUR SUGGESTED ADDITION TO THE END OF PARAGRAPH 15.
(F) THE HEI LING CHAU VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. THE STRUCTURE IS NO COMPLETED AND ALL THAT REMAINS IS FOR THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO BE INSTALLED. WORLD RELIEF HAS BEEN ASKED TO PREPARE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE UNHCR, A VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMME TO BE PROVIDED IN THE NEW CENTRE. WE ARE TORN BETWEEN THE NEED TO PROVIDE COURSES WHICH THE REFUGEES WILL ACTUALLY BE PREPARED TO TAKE UP AND THOSE WHICH WILL BE OF SOME PRACTICAL BENEFIT TO THEM. EVENTUALLY, WE ANTICIPATE THAT SOME COMPRISE, BASED ON A FORM OF COTTAGE INDUSTRY, WILL BE DEVELOPED.
(G) DEREK KNIGHT VISITED JUBILEE TRANSIT CENTRE IN JUNE 1984. HE WAS TOLD BY THE HEADMASTER OF THE SCHOOL THAT TWO REFUGEES WERE PLANNING TO SIT FOR GCE O LEVEL MATHEMATICS. THE TWO STUDENTS FAILED THEIR EXAMINATION. THIS YEAR TWO MORE STUDENTS WERE PLANNING TO SIT FOR 'O' LEVEL MATHEMATICS. IN THE END, ONE HAD BEEN RESETTLED BEFORE THE EXAMINATION TOOK PLACE AND THE OTHER DECIDED TO DROP OUT AND DID NOT SIT FOR THE EXAMINATION. AS FAR AS WE ARE AWARE, NONE OF THE REFUGEE CHILDREN HAVE ACTUALLY REACHED 'O' LEVEL STANDARD.
(H) THE OCCUPANCY RATE OF THE CLOSED CENTRES HAS IMPROVED AS A RESULT OF THE OPENING OF BOWRING AND THE LOW RATE OF ARRIVALS THIS YEAR. THIS HAS MEANT THAT REFUGEES IN THE CLOSED CENTRES HAVE MORE LIVING ACCOMMODATION AND THIS, IN TURN, HELPS WITH EDUCATION. HOWEVER, ACCESS TO TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IS DEPENDANT MUCH MORE ON THE PLANS THAT WE ARE FORMULATING THAN ON THE IMPROVEMENTS IN ACCOMMODATION IN THE CLOSED CENTRES. WE DO NOT THINK THAT IT WOULD BE WORTH MENTIONING THIS IN THE WHITE PAPER.
(J) WE PLAN TO BEGIN THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR. YOU MAY WISH TO ADD THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO CONVERT TWO DORMITORIES IN CHI MA WAN UPPER (WHICH IS OUTSIDE THE CLOSED CENTRE) INTO A SCHOOL TO PROVIDE AT LEAST SIX ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS. THESE CLASSROOMS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR WHEN THE NEW SCHOOL TERM BEGINS. IN ADDITION, SIX NEW CLASSROOMS (ALSO OUTSIDE THE CENTRE PROPER) WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND IN BOWRING CLOSED CENTRE IN SEPTEMBER. IN CAPE COLLINSON WE HAVE AGREED NOT (NOT) TO TOP-UP THE POPULATION AS REFUGEES ARE RESETTLED, WITH A VIEW TO MAKING ONE DORMITORY AVAILABLE FOR ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING PURPOSES. CONVERTION OF THIS DORMITORY IS
CONFIDENTIAL
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PLANNED
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