SOCIAL PROGRAMMES:
THE EDUCATION REPORT COMPILED BY THE VISITING GROUP OF OVERSEAS
EXPERTS, TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS THEREON, SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR DECISHON BEFORE THE AND
OF THIS YEAR. THE FINANCING OF ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SYSTEM
OF EDUCATION WILL NEED TO BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED, BUT I BELIEVE
THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO EDUCATION, AND ARE PREPARED TO PAY FOR IMPROVEMENTS,'' THE GOVERNOR SAID.
A DECISION ON WHETHER PLANNING FOR A THIRD UNIVERSITY SHOULD
PROCEED IS EXPECTED BY THE END OF THE YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR:
THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE HAS ADVISED THAT
A THIRD UNIVERSITY SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON
PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL SUTDIES.
THE UPGC HAS ALSO ADVISED ON A PROPOSAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HK
TO INTRODUCE AN EXTERNAL DEGREE PROGRAMME AND IS CONSIDERING THE
FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING OTHER FORMS OF EDUCATION IN HK, SUCH
AS AN OPEN UNIVERSITY AND THE EXTENSION OF EDUCATIONAL TV.
AN EXCO DECISION IS EXPECTED LATER THIS MONTH ON WHETHER THE
SECOND POLYTECHN LC CITY POLYTECHNIC SHOULD ACQUIRE TEMPORARY
PREMISES IN ORDER TO MAKE A START IN 1984-85. TWO NEW INDUSTRIAL
TRAINING COMPLEXES SHOULD BE IN OPERATION BY LATE 1984 AND A
SEAMEN'S TRAINING CENTRE IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR.
ON PUBLIC HOUSING, ABOUT 130 000 FLATS ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND BETWEEN NOW AND END OF THIS DECADE, OVER 300 000 FLATS WILL BE PRODUCED FOR RENT OR SALE. BY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, THERE SHOULD BE DECENT HOMES FOR MOST IF NOT ALL OF THOSE FAMILIES
WHO ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING. OVER 34 000 FAMILIES
HAVE BEEN REHOUSED FROM SQUATTER HUTS DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
THE LATEST CENSUS INDICATES THAT SOME 100 000 FAMILIES STILL LIVE
IN TEMPORARY HUTS. IT IS EXPECTED THAT ABOUT HALF OF THESE
FAMILIES WILL BE REHOUSED OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THE REMAINING
FAMILIES WILL BENEFIT FROM A NEW PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE SAFETY,
SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN SQUATTER AREAS.
ON MEDICAL SERVICES, WORK ON THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AND IT
'SHOULD BE IN OPERATION BEFORE THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR.
SITE FORMATION WORK HAS STARTED ON THE DOLLARS 752 MILLION PROJECT
TO UPGRADE THE FACILITIES AT THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL AND
CONSTRUCTION OF THE TUEN MUN HOSPITAL IS DUE TO COMMENCE EARLY
NEXT YEAR. THERE ARE PLANS FOR THREE NEW HOSPITALS AT CHAI WAN, EAST KOWLOON AND TAH PO, EACH WITH BETWEEN 1 200 AND 1 500 BEDS
AND EACH COSTING OVER ONE BILLION DOLLARS AT CURRENT PRICES.
THERE WILL BE A CORRESPONDING EXPANSION OF MEDICAL TRAINING
FACILITIES. THESE WILL INCLUDE PLANS TO BUILD FIVE NURSE TRAINING
SCHOOLS AND TO EXPAND THE INTAKES OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN THE
TWO UNIVERSITIES.
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