TNAG-1723-FCO40-2436-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 48

624

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-13 January 1988

There are also subvented services specifically directed at Chinese immigran International Social Service (ISS) offers migration counselling and provi briefings and film shows designed to help immigrants understand community resources and the social services available here. It also organises Cantonese and English classes and orientation tutorial groups for children of these families. The ISS Travellers' Aid Service counter at Hung Hom Railway Station helps new arrivals to contact their families and relatives, and gives general advice and help. Furthermore, in the Immigration Department's office at Rodney Block, Queensway, the ISS provides information on the social services available.

For 1987-88, the ISS has been allocated a subvention of about $262,000 for its post-migration service. The Subventions and Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee has recently advised that in 1988–89 the post-migration service of ISS should be given a slightly higher subvention than in 1987–88.

This subvention is by no means the only financial support given by Govern- ment to help immigrants to integrate into the Hong Kong community. Apart from the family service centres and group work units of the Social Welfare Department, subventions on a 100 per cent support basis are granted to voluntary agencies to provide 26 family service centres to help residents and new immigrants alike. There are also 13 subvented community centres which provide similar services.

Overseas education

10. MR. LAI asked: Will Government inform this Council of the number, broken down by level of education, of students studying overseas; how many of them began their overseas education last year; and what measures the Government has taken to safeguard the interest of students against misinformation provided by overseas schools?

SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER: According to available statistics, a total of 36 320 Hong Kong students were studying in the four major English- speaking countries of the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada and Australia in the academic year 1986–87. The numbers studying in the United Kingdom were 11 299, the USA 9 717, Canada 12 974 and Australia 2 330. The Government has no detailed breakdown by level of education for these students. Nor does the Government have figures for students studying in other countries, but the numbers are believed to be comparatively small.

A total of 10 716 student visas were issued in 1986-87 to students going to these four countries; 4 254 for the United Kingdom, 2 245 for the USA, 3 405 for Canada and 812 for Australia.