WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1981
10
SAFETY OF CHILDREN A MAJOR FACTOR
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DISTANCES BETWEEN ESTATES AND THE SAFETY OF YOUNG CHILDREN ARE MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL SITES IN HOUSING ESTATES, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON COLVYN HAYE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT MR HAYE SAID PRIMARY SCHOOL SITES SHOULD BE RESERVED TO A FORMULA WHICH WOULD ENSURE THAT CHILDREN WOULD NOT HAVE TO WALK MORE THAN 0.4 KM TO SCHOOL.
HE SAID THAT THE ACTUAL INCLUSION OF INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL PROJECTS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME ONLY TAKES PLACE AFTER AN EXAMINATION OF THE CAPACITY AND ENROLMENTS OF EXISTING PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN NEIGHBOURING ESTATES AND THE FEASIBILITY OF USING ANY SPARE CAPACITY IN SUCH SCHOOLS TO MEET THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE NEW ESTATE.
BUT IN THE CASES OF SOME HOUSING ESTATES WHICH ARE SEPARATED BY MAJOR ROADS OR A NATURAL BARRIER WHICH MAKE IT **FFICULT OR UNSAFE FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN TO TRAVEL, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO BUILD THE NEW SCHOOLS NEEDED, HE SAID.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON WONG LAM ABOUT MAKING THE FACILITIES GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, HE SAID GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED TO DO SO AND AIDED SCHOOLS ARE URGED TO FOLLOW SUIT.
HEADS OF GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS ARE REMINDED OF THIS ANNUALLY.
THE EXTRA-CURRICULAR UTILISATION OF THESE PREMISES IS HIGH, HE ADDED.
MR HAYE AGREED WITH THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN THAT CHILDREN SHOULD ENROL AT THE SCHOOLS NEAREST TO THE IR RESIDENCE.
GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS A TRY OUT: HAYE URGES
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THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE SHOULD BE TRIED OUT EVEN IF A VERY SMALL MINORITY OF THOSE AFFECTED FEEL AGGRIEVED, THE HON COLVYN HAYE, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, URGED IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
IN RESPONDING TO THE REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT AND HER SUPPORTERS AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1981 CONCERNING THE EDUCATION VOTE, MR HAYE ASSURED THAT ANY DECISION COULD BE REVIEWED IN DUE COURSE IF IT WAS FOUND TO REQUIRE MODIFICATION.
MR HAYE