WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1977
SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME
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TEN PER CENT OF THE PUPILS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME AS COMPARED WITH AN AVERAGE OF 13 PER CENT IN GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. K.L. THONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
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+HOWEVER, IN TERMS OF SCHOOLS 34 PER CENT OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE PARTICIPATING COMPARED WITH 70 PER CENT OF GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS, HE ADDED.
DR. THONG POINTED OUT THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME WAS A VOLUNTARY AND CONTRIBUTORY SCHEME AND IT WAS UP TO THE SCHOOLS CONCERNED TO ENCOURAGE MORE STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE.
+ALSO, HE ADDED, AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IS THE EASY ACCESS TO OTHER SOURCES OF MEDICAL CARE IN BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS.+
ON THE QUESTION OF THE LOWER ENROLMENT IN THE OVER 10 AGE GROUP, DR. THONG SAID THAT AS CHILDREN GREW OLDER, THE INCIDENCE OF ILLNESS AMONG THEM TENDED TO GET LOWER.
+ IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT MOST PARENTS WILL BE LESS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN IN THE SCHEME, + HE SAID.
COMMITTEE TO VET APPLICATIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL ESTATE SITES
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THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON SAID THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION BOARD HAD SET UP ITS OWN INTERNAL SELECTION COMMITTEE TO VET APPLICATIONS FOR SITES ON INDUSTRIAL ESTATES.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. FRANCIS TIEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID THE COMMITTEE WAS CHAIRED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND COMPRISED GOVERNMENT OFFICERS, AN UNOFFICIAL AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE CORPORATION.
HE NOTED THAT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION ON EACH APPLICATION IS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD ITSELF WITH WHICH THE FINAL DECISION RESTS.
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