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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1985
MR CHAN ALSO SUPPORTED THE TAX ON COSMETICS ITEMS.
+AS THE TAX NET IS NOW DRAWN TIGHTER ON THIS DUTIABLE COMMODITIES, IT IS TIMELY TO ADD A WORD OF CAUTION ON SMUGGLING WHICH I AM SURE THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE PERSONNEL WILL BE ABLE TO CONTROL, HE SAID.
EARLIER IN HIS SPEECH, MR CHAN PAID TRIBUTE TO LOCAL PEOPLE, SAYING THAT THE IR HARDWORK, CAPITAL AND TALENT HAVE HELPED TO BUILD UP HONG KONG.+
REVIEW ON OVERSEAS EDUCATION FUNDING SCHEMES URGED
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THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW ITS OVERSEAS EDUCATION SUBSIDY SCHEMES TO SEE THAT PUBLIC FUNDS WERE PUT TO THE BEST POSSIBLE USE.
SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUDGET DEBATE TODAY (THURSDAY), MR CHEUNG SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK INTO THE SUBSIDY SCHEME FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOVERNMENT OFFICERS OF THE APPROPRIATE RANK TO STUDY FROM LATE PRIMARY LEVEL TO THE AGE OF 19 IN BRITAIN.
HE BELIEVED THAT SOME FLEXIBILITY IN THE YEARS OF SUBSIDISED EDUCATION OVERSEAS FOR THESE STUDENTS WAS URGENTLY NEEDED OR THE SCHEME WOULD BECOME A WASTE OF MONEY.
ELABORATING, MR CHEUNG SAID LOCAL CHILDREN FINISHING PRIMARY SCHOOL HAD BECOME PROGRESSIVELY YOUNGER AND THEIR PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH HAD NOTABLY DECLINED.
+THESE TWO FACTORS MAKE IT UNDESIRABLE FOR THEM TO LEAVE HONG KONG SO SOON AND, INDEED, THE IR PARENTS ARE RELUCTANT TO LET THEM GO,+ HE SAID.
ON THE OTHER HAND, HE SAID, SINCE THE SCHEME BEGAN THE CHILDREN OF NON-BRITISH NATIONALS HAD BEEN REQUIRED TO PAY FULL UNIVERSITY FEES WHICH HAD INCREASED GREATLY IN RECENT YEARS WHILE THE CHILDREN OF BRITISH NATIONALS LIVING IN HONG KONG NEEDED PAY ONLY 'HOME' FEES.
+THUS THE LOCAL STUDENTS WHO DO SECONDARY EDUCATION IN BRITAIN ARE VIRTUALLY EXCLUDED FROM ANY HIGHER EDUCATION.
+MOST OF THEM CAN NEITHER AFFORD TO PAY FULL FEES IN BRITAIN NOR CAN THEY HOPE TO GET A PLACE IN A HIGHER INSTITUTION IN HONG KONG AFTER SECONDARY SCHOOLING IN BRITAIN, + HE SAID.
/ANOTHER SCHEME