TNAG-1788-FCO40-2548-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1988 — Page 193

L

ANNEX A TO XCCI(88)52

For decision

on 26 May 198

XCC (87) 76

Copy No..

•

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Education Ordinance (Chapter 279)

THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN IN VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CENTRES

THE PROBLEM

Education in both open and closed Vietnamese refugee centres has been improved gradually since it was first provided in 1979. But because of the low standard of the Vietnamese teachers, the schools can never satisfy the requirements for registration in the Education Ordinance. Moreover because children in

in closed centres are educated within the centres, their knowledge of the outside world is restricted. There is room too for improving education facilities.

RECOMMENDATION AND ADVICE SOUGHT

2

3

(a)

(b)

It is recommended that -

under the provision of Section 9(3) of the Education Ordinance (Chapter 279) the schools operating in open and closed refugee centres in Hong Kong should be exempted from the requirement to register under that Ordinance; and

education facilities in the closed centres should be further introduced as set out in paragraph 28.

Members will be asked to advise whether recommendations should be introduced.

these

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT

Education prior to the introduction of closed centres

4

During the first influx of Vietnamese refugees in 1979, facilities were provided on a temporary basis. Education resources concentrated mainly on language training and orientation classes to help later resettlement. Facilities were confined to the camps so that refugees would not compete with local children for their use.