Question No. 11
Reply by the Hon. Li Yuet-ting, JP, Acting Director of Education, to a Legislative Council Question by the Hon. YEUNG Po-kwan, CPM,
on 7 August 1985
Question
?
I
> Can the Government" make a statement to»:
confirm that its decision to reduce
dak administration grants tonaided schools: for the employment of janitors will not Jous Bernaffect the smooth operation of such schools
and that the granting of severance pay to ́ ́the redundant workers will not have any
adverse impact on the financial position
· of these:schools?a mi thai de te
Sir,
DOL
.i.
I confirm that the reduction in the Administration Grant
should not adversely affect the operation of the schools concerned.
The revised rates of grant have been calculated following a
detailed study of the janitor and cleaning services in government
schools on which the grant is based. While there might be some
small differences among the government schools and between aided
schools and government schools, these are not such as to justify
a different basis for the calculation of the grant. However,
there is in the aided sector a small number of schools with
additional, non-standard teaching areas and I have made proposals
to the three aided secondary school councils which would permit
some enhancement of the grants to these schools to meet their
special needs. I am awaiting the views of the councils on my
proposals.
The award of severance pay to janitor staff can be
charged to the Administration Grant. Given that almost all of
the schools concerned have accumulated surpluses (many of them
up to the permitted 3-month limit), that the reduction is being
phased in over three years and that the severance payment is
/reduced