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The Acting Chief Executive, Mrs Anson Chan, visited the Head Office of the International Social Services (ISS) Hong Kong Branch in Wan Chai today (April 10). The ISS is a non-government organisation providing services for new arrivals.

Accompanied by the Acting Director of Home Affairs, Mr Lui Hau-tuen, Mrs Chan met a group of newly arrived immigrants taking lessons in a computer class. Mrs Chan told the group that the use of computers and technology has changed the way how businesses operate and the way of life of the community. At the same time computer technology has become more user-friendly, and Mrs Chan encouraged the group to make good use of the computer training provided to them.

"In the cyber age, some knowledge in computers will enable us to keep pace with the changing times. It will also enhance one's employability", Mrs Chan added.

The Acting Chief Executive also participated in the discussion of a social group formed by some newly arrived women. The group provides opportunities for the participants to share their experience in adapting to the Hong Kong's way of life, and to establish a mutual help network among themselves.

Mrs Chan then talked to some newly arrived children aged between 6 and 16 who participated in an induction course. The objective of the course is to help these children to integrate into the local community. It comprises a series of orientation programmes, covering social adaption, interpersonal relationship, study skills and self-esteem enhancement.

Mrs Chan told the children that she was in their same shoes when her family moved from Shanghai to Hong Kong in the 1940's.

"It is natural that you may encounter some difficulties at the start when you move into a new community. You are all young and adaptive, and with the benefit of the induction services provided, I am sure you would be able to settle into Hong Kong quickly, just as I did many years ago."

A Steering Committee on New Arrival Services was set up in January 1998 under the chairmanship of the Secretary for Home Affairs to oversee the coordination and delivery of new arrival services provided by various Government departments and non-government organizations. In addition, a Co-ordinating Committee on New Arrival Services, chaired by the Director of Home Affairs and comprising representatives of relevant bureaux and departments, has been meeting regularly since December 1995 to formulate measures to facilitate their integration into the local community said.

Relevant departments will continue to improve their services for new arrivals in the coming years. The Education Department has recently announced a set of new measures to enhance existing education services for new arrivals, such as strengthening the publicity of existing placement services, and revising the content of the Induction Programme. The Labour Department will continue to provide various employment services for new arrivals in its Employment and Guidance Centres for New Arrivals and other district-based Local Employment Service Offices.

The Social Welfare Department is also planning to enhance the post-migration and pre-migration services under its purview. The objective of these services is to promote self-reliance and to help those new arrivals who are at the risk of falling into the CSSA net. Subject to the approval of the required funding by LegCo, the Department plans to set up four pre-migration centres in the Mainland at locations where there are concentration of family members with approval to come to Hong Kong in six months. There are also plans to set up four new post-migration centres in Hong Kong and to strengthen the staffing of the existing four centres.

End/Monday, April 10, 2000

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