TNAG-1673-FCO40-2321-Hong-Kong-Protection-of-Women-and-Juveniles-(Amendment)-Ordi-1987 — Page 5

remedial works all school buildings now comply with Fire Services' requirements and the safety requirements of the Architectural Services Department

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the

Section 9(3) of the Ordinance enables Governor-in-Council to exempt from all or any of the provisions of the Ordinance any school or class or description of school (see Annex F).

Alternative provision of education for children in closed

centres

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Although the provision of education for children in open and closed centres is broadly comparable, there is concern that children in closed centres cannot leave the centres.

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Although the main objective of the closed centre policy is to deter new arrivals by restricting refugees to the closed centres, in practice refugee children are allowed to leave the centres on educational and recreational outings. Each child makes an average of three formal outings per year, in addition to regular summer trips to beaches and private swimming pools near his centre. To preserve the integrity of the closed centre policy, these outings are not publicised.

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G

(a)

Four changes have been considered

Option 1 to allow children from closed centres to attend local schools nearby;

(b) Option 2 to establish a new primary school

outside each of the closed centres.

Local children and refugee children from the closed centres would attend;

(c)

Option 3 to allow children from closed centres to attend English

School Foundation Schools

subject to satisfying the language requirement for entry; and

-

(d) Option 4 to improve on the present standard of

provision within the closed centres.

This

Option 1 A list of the schools which have under-used

closed centres is at Annex G. premises nearby the three closed centres option would give rise to the following difficulties -

(a)

none of these schools has adequate facilities for all school age children from the relevant closed centre;

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