3
In addition, it hoped the public would not dismiss any new scheme without giving it enough thought.
KUNG SHEUNG EVENING NEWS, in a second editorial (July 19), expressed regret that most of the students who passed the SSEE with flying colours were book worms who were weak physically and who had no idea of what extra-curricular activities
were.
"We hope educationists will ask themselves whether the existing education system is 'stifling' or 'building up' the younger genera- tion," the paper said.
In a second editorial, HONG KONG DAILY NEWS (July 20) hoped the Govern- ment would give top priority to planning the future of Primary Six students who failed the SSEE and could not afford the high fees at private schools.
In addition, the paper criticised as "unwise" and "unfair" the existing system of allocating school places which separated qualified students into two groups the five-year subsidised and the three-year subsidised groups.
"We think the authorities should give all qualified students three-year subsidised places so that more Primary Six students can be offered school places," the paper suggested.
This could speed up progress towards the goal of nine years' free education.
NAM WAH MAN PAO (July 15) and TIN TIN YAT PO (July 16) hoped more big commercial firms and factories would offer jobs to students during the summer holidays.
TIN TIN commended the Summer Work Experience Scheme organised by the Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and supported by the Education Department. It hoped the Education Department would further promote the Scheme to allow more students to join it.
"In addition, the Government should call upon major organisations to co-operate with the authorities to allow more students to have an opportunity to obtain practical working experience during the summer holidays," TIN TIN added.
POLICE MORALE AND ICAC OPERATIONS
The Chinese Press continued to give considerable editorial attention to Police morale generally and the effects of ICAC investigations on morale.
There were seven editorials on the two topics.
KUNG SHEUNG DAILY NEWS (July 18) said: "In general the Hong Kong Police is a fine Force and we must not damage their morale.
"We should give them confidence, advice and encouragement to help them regain their dignity and do a good job of maintaining law and order."
The paper said there was undoubtedly corruption in the Force in the past, but this situation was fortunately fast disappearing as many young men joined the Force.
"Many serious robberies have recently been solved within a short period and this shows that the Force is still efficient and can shoulder the responsibility of maintaining law and order," it said.
WAH KIU MAN PO (July 16) said there had been a number of criticisms recently against the Force, but the majority were made with good intentions and were not meant to include the entire Force.
The paper said Police morale should not be affected by ICAC's anti-corruption operations.
"Police and the public should not allow themselves to be affected by the anti-corruption operations in such a way that one party feels nothing but shame while the other has nothing but contempt for it," it said.
"The Police in particular should be grateful that these anti-corruption operations are achieving success because this will help clear the good name of the Force.'
MING PAO (July 15) said it was wrong for some people to regard ICAC investigations, low Police morale and the worsening crime situation as a vicious cycle, because this assumption was based on the belief that all policemen were corrupt.
The paper said: "It is inevitable that a state of flux will prevail in any transitional period. However, after this period of re- adjustment, the public will come to respect and support the corruption-free, polite and efficient Police Force which will emerge, and there is no doubt that by that time Police morale will rise."