FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1975
FULL SUBSIDY TO 36 ASSISTED PRIVATE SCHOOLS STILL BEING DISCUSSED
X X X X X X
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE THE CONVERSION IN STAGES OF 36 ASSISTED PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO FULLY SUBSIDISED STATUS UNDER THE UNIFIED CODE OF AID FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
THIS APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE WAS GIVEN ON DECEMBER 18, 1974. HOWEVER, FUNDS HAVE NOT YET BEEN ALLOCATED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME, AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY WHEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON REPORTS IN AN ENGLISH. LANGUAGE AND A CHINESE LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED THE APPLICATION OF 36 ASSISTED PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO BECOME FULLY SUBSIDISED.+
THE SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED THAT OFFICERS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT MET THE PRINCIPALS OF THE 36 SCHOOLS ON DECEMBER 21 WHEN THEY EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT WHILE THE SCHEME HAD BEEN APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE FUNDS FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION WERE STILL BEING SOUGHT.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT CORRECT AS REPORTED THAT THE FIRST STAGE CAME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, AND THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WOULD INITIALLY PAY 50 PER CENT OF THE TEACHERS' SALARIES IN THESE SCHOOLS.
HE SAID OFFICIALS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE COLONIAL SECRETARIAT WERE STILL DISCUSSING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THESE 36 ASSISTED PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
DECLARATION OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
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IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS WERE TODAY REMINDED OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (REGISTRATION) REGULATIONS TO LODGE TRADE DECLARATIONS AND PAY AD VALOREM CHARGES WITHIN 14 DAYS OF TRANSACTING BUSINESS ON ALL IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OTHER THAN THOSE WHICH ARE EXEMPTED.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SAID THAT PROSECUTIONS WOULD BE INITIATED AGAINST THOSE WHO, WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE, FAILED TO LODGE THE NECESSARY TRADE DECLARATIONS.
TRADE DECLARATIONS SUBMITTED OUTSIDE THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD OF 14 DAYS WILL BE LIABLE, WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE, TO PENALTY CHARGES WHICH RISE AFTER TWO MONTHS TO A MAXIMUM OF $50 PER DECLARATION WHERE THE TOTAL VALUE OF ARTICLES SPECIFIED DOES NOT EXCEED $20,000.
WHERE THE VALUE EXCEEDS $20,000, THE PENALTY CHARGES RISE AFTER TWO MONTHS TO A MAXIMUM OF $100 PER DECLARATION.
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