TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1984
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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR SCHOOL OUTINGS
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THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TODAY REMINDED SCHOOLS TO FOLLOW PRESCRIBED PROCEDURES WHEN ORGANISING OUTINGS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF PUPILS.
FROM TIME TO TIME, SCHOOLS ORGANISE EXCURSIONS, PICNICS AND FIELD WORK FOR THEIR PUPILS.
+THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE HAVE JOINTLY DRAWN UP A SIMPLE SET OF REPORTING PROCEDURES WHICH IS AIMED AT HELPING SCHOOLS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR STUDENTS DURING OUTINGS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
ACCORDING TO THE PROCEDURES, SCHOOL AUTHORITIES WRITE TO THE POLICE DIVISIONAL COMMANDER OF THE AREA WHICH THE SCHOOL PARTY INTENDS TO VISIT AT LEAST 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE, GIVING HIM SUCH DETAILS AS THE DATE, TIME AND LOCALITY FOR THE OUTING.
THE SCHOOLS SHOULD ADVISE THEIR PUPILS TO CARRY THEIR IDENTITY CARDS OR JUNIOR IDENTITY CARDS. THOSE UNDER 11 YEARS SHOULD CARRY SOME FORM OF IDENTIFICATION PAPERS.
SCHOOL AUTHORITIES SHOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT THE LEADER OF THE PARTY WILL REPORT TO THE DUTY OFFICER OF THE LOCAL POLICE STATION UPON COMPLETION OF THE VISIT.
+THE POLICE FORCE WILL INITIATE SOME FORM OF SEARCH ACTION IN THE EVENT OF AN OVERDUE VISIT OR OUTING,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ALL PUPILS GOING ON FIELD TRIPS THAT THEY SHOULD REPORT THE IR RETURN IMMEDIATELY TO THEIR SUPERVISOR OR THE POLICE STATION CONCERNED IF THEY RETURN INDEPENDENTLY OF THE MAIN GROUP.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID, IT MUST BE STRESSED THAT WHILE A KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH TRIPS BY THE POLICE IS IN ITSELF AN IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTION, THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF PUPILS ON FIELD TRIPS AND OUTINGS MUST BE WITH THE SCHOOLS THEMSELVES, IN THAT THEY MUST PROVIDE COMPETENT LEADERS AND PROPERLY BRIEF THE PUPILS INVOLVED.+
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