24
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, cs
+ IT IS VERY ENCOURAGING THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS INCREASINGLY BEING CONSULTED AT THE VERY EARLIEST PLANNING STAGE ON SUCH THINGS AS NEW TOWNS, NEW ROADS, OUTLINE ZONING PLANS, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND SO ON, DR REED SAID.
BUT HE ADDED THAT THERE WAS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
HE EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN GREATER IMPROVEMENT IN SUCH LONG-STANDING PROBLEMS AS SMOKE EMISSIONS FROM ROAD VEHICLES, PILING NOISE, THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF TRANSPORTATION NOISE ON SCHOOLS, THE KAI TAK NULLAH PROBLEM AND THE SEVERE POLLUTION OF STREAMS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
HE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT PLANS WERE IN HAND TO BRING EVEN THESE APPARENTLY INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS WITHIN ACCEPTABLE BOUNDS.+
AID-OFFER TO PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS
****
GUIDELINES ON HOW TO APPLY FOR CHANGE TO NON-PROFIT-MAKING STATUS HAVE BEEN CIRCULATED TO ALL PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS SO THAT THEY MAY BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.
+ IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO NON-PROFIT-MAKING KINDERGARTENS SO THAT THEIR STANDARDS CAN BE IMPROVED AND MAINTAINED.
+ALL KINDERGARTENS ARE THEREFORE ENCOURAGED TO CHANGE TO NON-PROFIT-MAKING STATUS IN THE FIRST INSTANCE IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE,+ AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
THE GUIDELINES ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE CRITERIA FOR NON-PROF IT-MAKING STATUS, AND HOW PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS CAN CHANGE TO NON-PROF IT-MAKING STATUS.
HOWEVER,
HE CAUTIONED THAT THE ACQUISITION OF NON-PROFIT- MAKING STATUS ALONE DID NOT GUARANTEE ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF RE-IMBURSEMENT OF RENTALS AND RATES.
INTERESTED PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS SHOULD APPLY TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BEFORE TAKING LEGAL PROCEDURES FOR INCORPORATION AS NON-PROF IT-MAKING BODIES, HE SAID.
EACH APPLICATION WILL BE STUDIED BY A DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE. AND SINCE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL VARY FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL EACH CASE WILL BE CONSIDERED ON ITS OWN MERITS.
+A PRIVATE KINDERGARTEN CAN CHANGE TO NON-PROFIT-MAKING STATUS EITHER BY THE SCHOOL OPERATORS INCORPORATING THEMSELVES AS A NON-PROFIT-MAKING BODY, OR BY HANDING THE SCHOOL OVER TO AN ESTABLISHED NON-PROFIT-MAKING SPONSOR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IN APPLYING, THE PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS SHOULD PROVIDE THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF THEIR SCHOOLS, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES, DETAILS OF THE SCHOOL PREMISES, THE IR FINANCIAL STATUS AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION.
ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE SENIOR CDUCATION OFFICER (SCHOOLS), EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, THIRD FLOOR, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG, OR ON TELEPHONE 5-8392322.
/25