TNAG-1611-FCO40-2214-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 178

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int

a very good idea and in particular it meets the major

Ivalid criticism of the closed centres which is that

children are being brought up in these centres completely

divorced from normal life. If these children can go to

Hong Kong schools then they will experience life in a

highly sophisticated society. This will obviously be

as

to their advantage not only individuals but also in terms

of their prospects of resettlement. But I am afraid it is

not that easy in practical terms. We have been considering

all the various angles to it and we hope to be able to

put proposals to the Executive Council shortly.

As I

Now, Sir, as regards work opportunities.

informed the Legislative Council ad hoc group on 10 October,

their suggestions are being considered by a working group

established by the United Nations High Commission for

Refugees. On the whole our previous efforts to attract

local manufacturers to provide work opportunities to

Vietnamese refugees in the closed centres have not been

particularly successful, largely because of the location of

these centres. But refugees are undertaking piece work

relevant to a number of industries on a paid basis and

they are doing this now.

Examples of the sort of industries

which they are working in are tailoring, knitting, assembling

toys and assembling electronic equipment.

Question put and

agreed

to.