HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 1 June 1988
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1509
SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER: Sir, as far as I know, these bodies were not consulted as local bodies would normally be consulted about local interests as opposed to central ones. The schools' councils are the bodies. normally consulted on these sort of proposals and we conformed with that normal practice.
DR. TSE (in Cantonese): Sir, in the past two years, the Government has been promoting extra-curricular and civic educational activities and a Civic Education Committee has been set up to encourage schools and local organisations to organise activities on Sundays, public holidays, and even during the summer holidays, so that more students and citizens will participate in these activities. On many occasions, students will have to take public transport to join these activities. Will the Government, when appropriate, revise the scheme again, so that we will be able to better promote civic education?
SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER: Sir, I think we have already met Dr. Tse's point, because the previous scheme did in fact exclude travel on Sundays and during school holidays because, with that scheme, the only way we could exclude recreational travel was in this rather crude way. With the new scheme, we are able to permit travel during holidays and on Sundays.
MRS. TAM (in Cantonese): Sir, the Government has conducted this review but no public consultation has been conducted. I would like to understand why no public consultation has been conducted and, if there is going to be any revision to the scheme, will it be the case again that no public consultation will be held?
SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER: Sir, the consultation was fairly wide, as I have already described. I do not understand what Mrs. TAM means by 'no public consultation'. As explained, on the point of recreational travel, there was consultation with the bodies concerned. I do not quite understand what her point is.
MR. ANDREW WONG (in Cantonese): Sir, in reply to Mr. Desmond LEE'S question, the Secretary said that it would be unfair to ask other commuters to share part of the subsidy. But is the Early Bird Monthly Pass scheme operated by the MTRC not one that requires other commuters to subsidise those benefiting from the scheme. Also the KCRC and the bus companies have been charging children and pupils half fares; would that mean that it is also unfair to the other commuters?
SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER: Sir, this question does seem to me to be slightly outside the scope of the original question, which was about consultation on the student travel subsidy scheme. I suggest, if Mr. WONG wishes to ask about the MTR, he should ask a separate question.