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estate.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
There will eventually be eleven such primary schools which should be sufficient to cater for all children of primary school age in the estate.
MR. LI:- Mr. Chairman, I am satisfied that adequate provision is made for school places in the Sau Mau Ping Estate, but may I express the hope that these eleven primary schools will be completed and will be functioning as early as possible, because it is very difficult for children in the estate to walk to Kwun Tong Estate to attend school; the distance is, I think, quite a long one.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:
In reply to that supplementary, Mr. Chairman, I can only say that, of the four under construction, I understand that the first may be ready within six months. As for the completion dates of the others of the remaining seven—I am afraid I cannot give any indication of them at this meeting.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, does the Commissioner for Resettlement know about how many children of primary school age in the Sau Mau Ping Estate are not going to school?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- We had a very hurried count on that after receiving notice of Mr. Li Yiu-bor's question, and the estimate is about 470.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- And how many are going to school?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I am afraid, Mr. Chairman, I haven't got that figure available.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Perhaps it might be made available, if it is not too much trouble, later on?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:
Certainly, I will be very glad to do so.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Now, Mr. Chairman, can something be done both by the Resettlement Department and principally by the Education Department, who unfortunately does not have a representative here to-day.
CHAIRMAN:- Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, are you in fact beginning a new question?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, I haven't finished my supplementary.
CHAIRMAN:- Could you put it in the form of a question, please?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- It is in the process of forming—(Laughter) but to show my co-operation I will re-frame it in a shorter form. Can something be done to find places for the 470 children of primary school age in the Sau Mau Ping Estate? Can places be found for them in Kwun Tong which has 167 vacancies in subsidized, and 607 vacancies in private primary schools? It is much more than the number of children in Sau Mau Ping who are not going to school.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:
When the first estate school in Sau Mau Ping is ready in July—a 24 classroom school, assuming perhaps 40 children to a class, that would be 960 in one session—presumably there would be two sessions per school—this will certainly help. Apart from that, the other means that may and will be taken to find places for the other children will, I think, be given by my friend Mr. Li Yiu-bor in a subsequent question this evening.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- In other words, Mr. Chairman, it is possible—
CHAIRMAN:- Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, this subject has been sufficiently enlarged upon.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- I don't think so, Sir, but since there is going to be a question on this subject—
CHAIRMAN:- Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, I am on my feet.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Sir, you want me to sit down?
CHAIRMAN:- Please.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Now, Mr. Chairman—
CHAIRMAN:
Mr. Li Yiu-bor, I am anxiously waiting for your question.
DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary question before you go on to the next question? May I please know from the Commissioner for Resettlement whether there are any middle schools being built, or whether it is entirely primary schools being built in that area?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- No secondary schools or middle schools are planned for any resettlement estates. I understand that the intention is that middle and secondary educational facilities should not be provided exclusively for resettlement populations, but should be in the vicinity and open to all.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, are you trying to prevent Elected Members from asking supplementary questions on questions raised at this meeting?
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