HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 2 November 1988
香港立法局 ——————————一九八八年十一月二日
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SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: Sir, I would like to know the answer myself.
Orientation programmes for Vietnamese refugees
5. 劉皇發議員問:基於越南難民來自與香港文化及社會背景不同的地區,更加上他們在禁閉營 住了一段長時間,請政府告知本局在實施開放越南難民營政策時,有關當局會否採取措施使有關 的難民了解本港的社會情况,以協助他們適應營外的生活?
SECRETARY FOR SECURITY: To enable the Vietnamese refugees to adjust to their new environment, arrangements have been made by the government departments concerned to brief them on various aspects of life in Hong Kong. The briefing topics include law and order, road safety, industrial safety, labour relations, public community relations, anti-corruption and narcotics. At the same time UNHCR and voluntary agencies are conducting culture orientation courses, health and hygiene courses, Cantonese classes, familiarization visits and vocational training for the benefit of the refugees. Among them, the Caritas plans to launch a host family project whereby volunteer local families will entertain Vietnamese families in their spare time with a view to promoting a better understanding between the refugee community and the local community. All these efforts by Government departments and the voluntary sector aim at increasing the refugees' understanding of the local community, so as to help them to adapt to the life outside their centres.
A few agencies are running a social adaptation programme including the teaching of Cantonese, as well as orientation and familiarization visits. Many of the programmes are tailor-made to suit particular needs. For example, the job placement agency provides escorts for refugees going out to work for at least a day or two in order to sort out any adaptation problems with the employees as well as employers.
A number of private sector employers also offer to provide orientation programmes for their Vietnamese employees and local banks have been invited to brief refugees on the banking facilities to which the refugees will have access. These will be especially important when the refugees start earning money.
In short, Sir, we are embarking on a major programme for the Vietnamese on a larger scale than before. Some of the programmes are already underway and I am pleased with the co-operation we have received so far from the
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