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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1978
CONCERNING THE LAST PROVISION OF THE BILL WHICH CONFERRED THE PRESIDENCY OF THE POLYTECHNIC UPON THE GOVERNOR, SIR S.Y. CHUNG PAID TRIBUTE TO THE GOVERNOR FOR ACCEPTING IT BY A NON-STATUTORY ARRANGEMENT IN EARLY 1973 AND HIS REGULAR OFFICIATION AT THE POLY- TECHNIC'S GRADUATION CEREMONIES.
+THIS HAD DONE MUCH TO ENHANCE THE PRESTIGE OF THE INSTITUTION AND TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE GRADUATES THE HIGH VALUE WHICH HONG KONG PLACES UPON THE IR FUTURE CONTRIBUTION TO OUR SOCIETY, HE SAID.
SIR S.Y. CHUNG ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE FULL-TIME STUDENT POPULATION OF THE POLYTECHNIC HAD EXPANDED FROM 3,500 TO OVER 9,000 IN SIX YEARS AND THE SPECTRUM OF COURSES HAD WIDENED TO PROVIDE STUDIES IN VARIOUS NEW AREAS.
+DESPITE THE FAST EXPANSION OF THE POLYTECHNIC, ONLY SIX PER CENT OF LAST YEAR'S GRADUATES WERE STILL UNEMPLOYED BY OCTOBER 1977 AND THE RATIO OF QUALIFIED APPLICANTS TO FULL-TIME PLACES AVAILABLE FOR THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR IS MAINTAINED AT HIGH LEVEL OF ABOUT SIX TO ONE, HE ADDED.
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ALSO SPEAK ING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, DR. THE HON. RAYSON HUANG DESCRIBED THE EXPANSION OF THE POLYTECHNIC AS +TRULY REMARKABLE AND SAID IN THE YEARS TO COME, AS HONG KONG MOVED TOWARDS DIVERSIFICATION OF ITS ECONOMY, THE POLYTECHNIC WOULD HAVE AN EVEN GREATER ROLE TO PLAY IN PROVIDING TECHNICAL PERSONNEL IN A HOST OF DISCIPLINES.
+THE TIME HAS THEREFORE COME FOR POLYTECHNIC'S TEACHERS, WHO HAVE NOW SETTLED IN THEIR JOBS AND HAVE BECOME CONVERSANT WITH LOCAL CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG AND ITS NEEDS TO BE GIVEN A GREATER PART IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THE INSTITUTION.
+THIS WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP IN CHARTING THE COURSE OF THE POLYTECHNIC'S FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS AND AT THE SAME TIME GIVE THEM A GREATER SENSE OF PARTICIPATION AND BELONGING, + HE ADDED.
FILM CENSORSHIP ARRANGEMENTS UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW
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THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. F.K. LI, TODAY ASSURED THAT IT IS GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO KEEP THE PRESENT FILM CENSOR- SHIP ARRANGEMENTS UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW TO ENSURE THAT APPROPRIATE
IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE WHEREVER NECESSARY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. KWAN KO SIU-WAH IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. LI SAID FOR THIS REASON, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING OR HIS STAFF FREQUENTLY ATTEND SEMINARS AND DISCUSSIONS ORGANISED BY MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, AREA COMMITTEES, KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, STUDENTS GROUPS AND OTHER BODIES TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON CURRENT CENSORSHIP PROBLEMS.
+THESE DISCUSSIONS GREATLY ASSIST THE COMMISSIONER TO KEEP
ABREAST WITH PUBLIC SENTIMENTS, HE ADDED.
MR. LI ALSO SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS GENERALLY SATISFIED THAT PUBLIC OPINION HAS BEEN ADEQUATELY REFLECTED IN FILM CENSORSHIP.