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TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1980
APPLICATION FOR LOANS CAN BE MADE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT'S AGRICULTURAL LIAISON OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES OR ITS HEADQUARTERS IN KOWLOON.
+LOANS ARE GENERALLY ISSUED IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER ASSESSING THE APPLICANT'S NEEDS, REPAYMENT ABILITY AND PRACTICALITY OF THE PROJECTS TO BE FINANCED, HE EXPLAINED ADDING THAT REPAYMENT TERMS VARY, DEPENDING ON THE PURPOSE OF THE LOAN.
STUDENTS RESPOND WELL TO PILOT READING SCHEME ****
THE PILOT ENGLISH READING SCHEME CONDUCTED IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS WAS WORTHWHILE, MRS LOUISE MOK, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS) SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SHE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF AN EXHIBITION OF THE WORKS OF PUPILS WHO TOOK PART IN THE PILOT SCHEME.
INSPECTORS FROM THE ENGLISH SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT REGULARLY SUPERVISED DISCUSSION SESSIONS ON THE SCHEME AND FOUND THAT STUDENTS RESPONDED WELL.
TEACHERS OF PARTICIPATING CLASSES AGREED THAT PUPILS EVENTUALLY COULD READ FASTER AND WITH BETTER COMPREHENSION, MRS MOK SAID.
THE SCHEME AIMS AT ENCOURAGING PUPILS TO FORM A HABIT OF WIDE READING FOR PLEASURE, SHE SAID.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY AT CLEMENTI MIDDLE SCHOOL MR RAY TONGUE, ENGLISH LANGUAGE ADVISER TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, SAID THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND ECONOMICAL ROUTE TO GREATER SUCCESS IN LEARNING ENGLISH FOR THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS IS THROUGH WIDER SUPPLEMENTARY READING.
+IN A SITUATION LIKE HONG KONG WHERE THE MAJORITY OF PUPILS HAVE LITTLE NEED TO USE ENGLISH OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, READING CAN SERVE AS THE KEY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREATER PROFICIENCY IN THE USE OF THE LANGUAGE, HE SAID.
FOR MANY COMPETENT SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE ALL OVER THE WORLD, THE READING SKILL WAS THE BASIS ON WHICH THE IR ALL-ROUND PROFICIENCY IN THE LANGUAGE WAS BUILT ON, MR TONGUE SAID.
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