THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978
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MR. CHEONG-LEEN POINTED OUT THAT AS THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD NO AUTHORITY AT PRESENT TO COMPEL PARENTS TO SEND THE IR CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER THE AGE OF 11, AND ASKED WHETHER ANY AMENDMENT TO EXISTING LEGISLATION WOULD BE REQUIRED UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT GOVERNMENT COULD PROVIDE FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION UP TO FORM 3 OR ON ATTAINMENT OF THE AGE OF 15.
IN REPLY MR. TOPLEY SAID +AS REGARDS LEGISLATION FOR THE RAISING OF THE COMPULSORY AGE OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND THE CORRESPONDING PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT, THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS ARE DESCRIBED IN YOUR EXCELLENCY'S SPEECH OF OCTOBER 5 LAST YEAR.
+SPECIFICALLY AS REGARDS NON-INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT. SIR, YOU STATED: 'THE INTENTION IS TO PROHIBIT EMPLOYMENT WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH A CHILD'S SCHOOLING, BUT FLEXIBILITY WILL BE MAINTAINED TO ALLOW FOR PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT PARTICULARLY IN FAMILY BUSINESS OR SUMMER JOBS.+
LASTLY MR. CHEONG-LEEN ASKED, IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY EDUCATION, AND DERIVE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FOR MONEY SPENT, HOW SOON THE GOVERNMENT COULD REVERT BACK TO FULL-DAY SESSIONS.
IN REPLY MR. TOPLEY SAID: THE QUESTION OF UNISESSIONAL AND BI-SESSIONAL PRIMARY EDUCATION IS BEING EXAMINED BY THE WORKING PARTY ON PRIMARY EDUCATION.+
FINANCIAL SECRETARY WINDS UP BUDGET DEBATE
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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IT NOW LOOKS THAT THE SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR 1977-78 WILL BE $1,080 MILLION COMPARED WITH HIS PREDICTION OF $1,150 MILLION.
BASED ON THE STATE OF THE TREASURY'S CASH BOOK AT THE END OF MARCH, HE EXPECTED REVENUE TO BE ABOUT $9,200 MILLION AND EXPENDITURE ABOUT $8,120 MILLION.
COMMENTING ON THE ACCURACY OF ESTIMATES, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID HE HAS TO RELY ON PROFESSIONAL OPINION AND GUIDELINES BY HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND FINANCE BRANCH IN PREPARING THE BUDGET.
IN WINDING UP THE BUDGET DEBATE BY REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE +CANNOT MANAGE THE PUBLIC FINANCES SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF STATISTICAL PROJECTIONS.+
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID: +ON THE REVENUE SIDE, I HAVE TO TAKE A VIEW OF THE LIKELY COURSE OF THE ECONOMY AND GIVE DUE WEIGHT TO THE PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS OF SUCH COLLECTORS OF REVENUE AS THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE AND, ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, I HAVE TO BE GUIDED BY WHAT HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND FINANCE BRANCH SAY IS NEEDED BY WAY OF VOTE PROVISION TO IMPLEMENT APPROVED POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES.+