The age limit for compulsory secondary education, which with effect from 1st September 1980 will be extended to 15th birthday.
(b)
The age limit accepted for half-fares by HYF and SF, the 16th birthday.
(c)
(d)
The current general concession to all secondary school students granted by CMB, KMB and HKT under the Government subsidy system.
The number of children in each of these groups (see paragraph 20).
The setting of a limit of this nature must to some extent be arbitrary. The Secretary for Social Services has suggested the 15th birthday, this being the limit of compulsory education. TAC has recommended that the scheme should apply to the school year during which a student reaches his 15th birthday. This is still in accordance with the provision of universal education, is administratively simpler, and is most likely to be acceptable to the transport companies (as less than they might have to provide) and to the general public, as more than they might expect to receive.
F
20
Details of secondary school attendance by age are given at Annex F. These indicate fairly even numbers for the 12-15th birthday and 12-16th birthday age groups over the next 10 years, although the total number of students is dropping. It should be emphasised that these figures are estimates only, included to give an indication of the financial implications of this scheme to the companies, and of the number of students affected.
G.S. 166
21
If the recommended option is adopted, then about 40% of students aged 12 and over who travel by bus will be affected. It is estimated that the additional cost per month per student will be $9.00 in the urban area and $16.00 in the New Territories. It should be noted however that an allowance for student travel is included in the Public Assistance Scheme. It should also be noted that since 1978 primary school leavers have been allocated to secondary schools on the basis of regional zones reducing to some extent the need to travel long distances, (although this is not yet practical for many students in the New Territories, who at present benefit most from the subsidy scheme), and by September 1980 the great majority of lower secondary students will have been so allocated.
CONFIDENTIAL #