711
30 JUNE 1978
Written Answers
Mr. Luard: Yes. The translation of the petition, which was in Chinese, is as follows:
Tel: 3-886383 3-884343
Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, 46-48 Man King Building.
2nd Floor. Ferry Point, Kowloon.
Sir Murray MacLehose
The Governor of Hong Kong Your Excellency
16th May 1978
On 14th instant, the Education Department decided to close the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee Secondary School and the whole of Hong Kong was startled. The consequences that this decision may lead to will make people worry all the more. Before this incident gradu- ally worsened and developed, our Union had tried everything possible to mediate for mitiga- tion of tension with a view to reaching a settle- ment. We did not slacken down our efforts despite obstructions. It is regrettable that the efforts were of no avail. Now that the affair has developed into its present state we, with our original intention of trying to achieve mitiga tion of tension and settlement of the affair, hereby put forward to your Excellency our proposals as follows:
1. The Precious Blood Golden Jubilee Secondary School to resume all its classes on Monday 22nd inst. The school life should return to normal, the Education Department, the school authorities, teachers, students and parents of students should immediately cease any further actions.
2. A special committee be formed to con- duct an in-depth-fact-finding survey and to see to the school life of the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee Secondary School remain normal permanently so as to settle the affair thoroughly. Members of this special com- mittee should be those of the four-member delegation_recently appointed by the most reverent Baptist John Wu, the Roman Catholic Bishop. (Members of the delegation are: The Right Reverent Gabriel Lam, the Vicar-General, Mr. Peter Cheung, Vice- Chairman of Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission, Father Thomas Kwan and Father John Tong.) The special committee may invite other people to be its advisors in order to assist in its work.
3. The special committee should station in the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee Secondary School on the day it re-opens. It will on the one hand make an in-depth survey and on the other investigate into the internal reia- tions of the school and promote communica- tions with a view to maintaining normal school life.
4. With regards to the questions of whether the school should change its name, whether it should be taken over by another sponsoring organisation, whether the manage- ment committee should be re-organised, the retention or otherwise of the Principal, the renewal of contracts with old and teachers, these can be studied by the special committee and handled later.
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Written Answers
712
For the benefit of Hong Kong's education, all the students of the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee Secondary School, their parents and the school's teachers and staff, we beseech Your Excellency to favour us with your wise instructions. We await respectfully, Sir, your reply.
Signed Seto Wah, President,
Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union.
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request the Governor of Hong Kong to dismiss the Acting Director of Education.
Mr. Luard: No.
** TOP SALARIES REVIEW BODY
The Prime Minister, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 22nd June 1978; Vol. 952, c. 264], gave the following information:
The Tenth Report of the Review Body on Top Salaries is published today as Cmnd. 7253. Copies are available in the Vote Office. The Government's decisions on the recommendations in the report will be published shortly.
2
NORTHERN IRELAND
Border Incidents
Mr. McCusker asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents involving shooting across the border from the Republic of Ireland have occurred since 1st January 1978 to the latest available date.
Mr. Mason: I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
TRANSPORT
?
Driving Tests (Greater London Area)
Mr. O'Halloran asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the normal period of waiting for a driving test in the Greater London area after an applica- tion for a test has been made.
Mr. Horam: This information is not readily available.
The average waiting period in the Metropolitan traffic area is 184 weeks.