WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1983
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HE SAID IT WAS NOT BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT CARE ABOUT EDUCATION THE GOVERNMENT CARED A GREAT DEAL ABOUT EDUCATION, BUT BECAUSE THE ISSUE WAS NOT THE REPORT AS SUCH, BUT RATHER CONSULTATION ON THE REPORT.
+THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FREELY GIVEN AND WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED IS THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE CONSULTED, MR TOPLEY SAID.
+THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO A SERIES OR A SEQUENCE OF ACTIONS RECEIVING THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC, COLLATING THESE VIEWS AND SEEKING AGAIN THE ADVICE OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
*THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE OBLIGATION TO COMPLETE THIS PROCESS OF CONSULTATION.+
MR TOPLEY STRESSED THAT THIS DID NOT MEAN THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS INDIFFERENT TO THE REPORT OR TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.
+FATHER MCGOVERN HAS SUGGESTED THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO BURY THE REPORT. THIS IS NOT SO. THE GOVERNMENT WILL EXAMINE ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT IN THE LIGHT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED,← HE SAID.
HE SAID TO BESTOW UPON THE REPORT THE STATUS OF AGREED POLICY AS FATHER MCGOVERN'S MOTION IMPLIED WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF SHUTTING OFF FURTHER PUBLIC CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION,
MR TOPLEY SAID HE BELIEVED THAT MEMBERS HAD BEEN MISLED, NOT BY FATHER MCGOVERN, BUT PERHAPS BY THEIR EAGERNESS FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS AND REFORMS INTO REDUCING THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE PUBLIC TO BE HEARD IN THIS IMPORTANT DEBATE.
UMELCO WELCOMES EDUCATION REPORT
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THE REV THE HON PATRICK MCGOVERN TODAY MOVED A MOTION WELCOMING THE PANEL OF OVERSEAS VISITORS' REPORT ENTITLED +A PERSPECTIVE ON EDUCATION IN HONG KONG+ AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING,
THE MOTION READS,
+THAT THIS COUNCIL RECEIVES WITH APPROBATION THE REPORT 'A PERSPECTIVE ON EDUCATION IN HONG KONG' AND COMMENDS IT TO GOVERNMENT AS A BASIS ON WHICH THE CONTINUING IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.+
TWELVE OTHER UNOFFICIALS SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION.
FATHER MCGOVERN, CONVENER OF THE UMELCO EDUCATION AND MANPOWER PANEL, OUTLINED 24 POINTS UNANIMOUSLY AGREED UPON BY THE UMELCO PANEL, ADDING THAT THIS WAS +A RARE ACHIEVEMENT+,
HE SAID THAT THE UMELCO PANEL HAD MET SEVERAL TIMES AT SOME LENGTH.
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