In the past 10 years, more and more Tibetan compatriots have returned to their native places to settle, and the Chinese government has attached great importance to the arrangements for them to do so. To do the work properly, the People's Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region established the Returned Tibetan Compatriots' Reception Committee in 1980, under which there is an office in charge of overseas Tibetans coming back to visit their relatives and friends. engage in sightseeing, pay religious homage or settle down. Corresponding offices and service agencies have been set up in Lhasa, Nagqu, Xigaze, Qamdo, Nyingchi. Shannan, and other cities and prefectures.

The people's governments of the Tibet Autonomous Region and Lhasa City jointly issued the Problems Appearing During the Arrangement for the Settlement of Returned Tibetan Compatriots and Opinions on Their Solution, which makes clear specifications on the examination and approval procedures for the settlement of returned overseas Tibetans. In October l982 rules for the implementation of the arrangements were also formulated so as to guarantee the basic needs of returned Tibetan compatriots who wished to settle in their native places.

The returned Tibetan compatriots reception offices at all 1ev-els in the Tibet Autonomous Region deal with different people in different ways, in accordance with their different conditions and the government's policies. During the arrangements for returned Tibetan compatriots, the following concrete measures have been adopted:

1.In the case of Tibetan compatriots without relatives ,friends or houses. the reception office shall help them solve their housing problems; and as for those who have relatives, families and children, but their houses are dilapidated, the reception office shall offer to help them improve their houses.

2.The reception office shall offer them proper subsidies in accordance with their economic conditions both when they were abroad and after they returned to China. Subsidies shall be graded depending on the degree of economic hardship, with no subsidies available for those who are able to support themselves. The amount of subsidies shall be decided on according to the price index of the current year.

3.With regard to arrangements for work, the government shall refer young Tibetan compatriots with specialities to the relevant departments. Those who wish to become involved in business shall be assisted appropriately, and welfare measures shall be applied in the case of those who are old, sick or have otherwise lost the ability to work. The Returned Tibetan Compatriots Reception Office of the Autonomous Region has a special "Employment Service Center for Returned Tibetan Compatriots" to help returned Tibetan compatriots solve difficulties they may encounter in finding jobs.

4.The returned Tibetan compatriots who have made outstanding contributions to the homeland shall be assigned work which will allow them to give full play to their special skills.

5.Forums shall be held for returned Tibetan compatriots, so that they can offer suggestions and opinions on the government's work and become acquainted with their new work responsibilities and livelihoods. The local governments shall do their best to solve the difficulties the newcomers encounter in their new situations.

6. The children of returned Tibetan compatriots enjoy equal rights with Chinese citizens in education and employment: and the relatives of overseas Tibetan compatriots shall be treated the same as Chinese citizens without any form of discrimination.