CONFIDENTIAL
187456. MDLIAN 4226)
6. FOUR MOTION DEBATES AND ONE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE WERE MOVED IN APRIL. THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL TRANSPORT SERVICES OF NEW TOWNS, MOVED BY LEE WING-TAT ON 8 APRIL, ATTRACTED LESS PUBLIC INTEREST AS THE SUBJECT WAS MORE LOCALISED. THE OTHERS ALL HAD QUITE A LOT OF PUBLICITY.
GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION
7. ERIC LI MOVED THIS MOTION ON 8 APRIL. ITS WORDING WAS: 'THAT THIS COUNCIL RECOGNISES THE SIGNIFICANT SHORTFALLS IN CERTAIN AREAS OF REHABILITATION SERVICES, AND THE INSUFFICIENT PROGRESS MADE IN THE EQUALISATION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISABLED PERSONS TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY: AND URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE ADEQUATE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND OTHER FORMS OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE APPROPRIATE IMPROVEMENT MEASURES AFTER TAKING HEED OF PUBLIC VIEWS EXPRESSED DURING THE WIDE CONSULTATION ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN THE GREEN PAPER BY THE WORKING PARTY ON REHABILITATION POLICIES AND SERVICES'
8.
THE ORIGINAL MOTION WAS AMENDED BY A MOTION MOVED BY LEONG
CHI-HUNG WHICH CALLED FOR INADEQUACIES NOT COVERED BY THE GREEN
PAPER TO BE IDENTIFIED AND FOR THE FORMULATION OF AN OVERALL POLICY FOR THE PROVISION OF REHABILITATION SERVICES AND PROVISION
OF ADEQUATE FINANCIAL AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENT THE POLICY. THE AM ENDED MOTION WAS CARRIED.
TERTIARY AND BASIC EDUCATION
9.
CHEUNG M AN-KWONG'S MOTION, ALSO ON 8 APRIL, READ AS FOLLOWS: 'THAT SINCE EDUCATION IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR ECONOMY AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY, THIS COUNCIL URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEW ON THE BALANCE BETWEEN TERTIARY AND BASIC EDUCATION AS WELL AS THEIR RESPECTIVE DEVELOPMENT AND WHILE EXPANDING TERTIARY EDUCATION, TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF BASIC EDUCATION THROUGH THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. IN THIS CONNECTION, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CALL OFF ITS CURRENT MEASURE TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE CLASSES AT PRIMARY I AND SECONDARY I LEVELS BY TWO PUPILS, SO AS NOT TO UNDERMINE THE INTERESTS OF STUDENTS AND PARENTS, DEAL A BLOW TO THE MORALE OF EDUCATIONAL WORKERS AND AFFECT THE QUALITY OF BASIC EDUCATION'.
10.
CHEUNG'S MOTION WAS AMENDED, BY 25 VOTES FOR TO 22 AGAINST,