WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1985
15
MOST PARENTS HEED SCHOOLING ADVICE
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ACTION HAD BEEN TAKEN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AGAINST PARENTS WHO DID NOT SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PAULINE NG, MR LEUNG POINTED OUT THAT SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF NINE-YEAR COMPULSORY EDUCATION, MOST PARENTS HAD TAKEN THE DEPARTMENT'S ADVICE AND ONLY IN SIX CASES HAD IT BEEN NECESSARY TO ISSUE ATTENDANCE ORDERS.
EXPLAINING THE ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES, MR LEUNG SAID STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS WOULD FIRST TRY TO PERSUADE THE PARENTS CONCERNED TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL.
+WHERE NECESSARY, CASES ARE REFERRED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION OF MY DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER ADVICE OR HELP,+ HE SAID, ADDING THAT DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICERS WOULD ASSIST IN SEEKING SCHOOL PLACEMENT FOR THE CHILDREN CONCERNED.
IF THERE WERE NO GOOD REASONS FOR NON-ATTENDANCE AND IF REPEATED ADVICE FAILED, THE PARENTS CONCERNED WOULD BE WARNED VERBALLY AND THEN IN WRITING.
THE WRITTEN WARNING REQUIRED THE PARENTS TO SEND THE CHILD TO SCHOOL WITHIN 14 DAYS. FAILING THAT, AN ATTENDANCE ORDER WOULD BE SERVED UNDER SECTION 74 OF THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE, MR LEUNG SAID.
AMENDMENTS TO MAKE TAX HOLDOVERS BILL MORE FLEXIBLE
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AMENDMENTS INTRODUCED TO THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1984 GAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN PERMITTING THE HOLDOVERS OF PAYMENT OF TAX, THE HON BILL BROWN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE WAS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE CONVENER OF THE LEGCO UNOFFICIAL'S AD HOC GROUP.
MR BROWN POINTED OUT THAT THE COMMISSIONER HAD THE POWER TO PERMIT HOLDOVERS WITHOUT ANY CONDITIONS, AND THE STATISTICS SUPPORTED HIS CLAIM THAT HE READILY DID SO WHEN IT WAS IMMEDIATELY APPARENT THAT A TAXPAYER'S OBJECTION HAD MERIT.
/HE NOTED