WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1985
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SCHEME PLANNED FOR REPAIR PROJECTS IN SCHOOLS
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THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO LAUNCH A PILOT SCHEME IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR TO TAKE OVER THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAJOR REPAIR WORKS IN SELECTED AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS. THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID THAT THIS WAS AIMED AT IMPROVING EXISTING PROCEDURES CONCERNING REPAIRS AND THAT IF THE SCHEME PROVED PRACTICABLE, CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO EXTENDING IT TO OTHER AIDED SCHOOL.
MR LEUNG WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN ON WHAT MEASURES GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE TO SIMPLIFY AND SPEED UP THE APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR MAJOR REPAIR WORKS IN SUBVENTED SCHOOLS OR BODIES.
REFERRING TO PRESENT PROCEDURES, MR LEUNG SAID THAT THEY WERE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A SYSTEM WHICH COMBINED THE EXPEDITIOUS CARRYING OUT OF REPAIRS WITH ADEQUATE MONITORING TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
+THE SYSTEM IS UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW AND ONLY RECENTLY IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE TO ENABLE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS TO BE MORE QUICKLY RESOLVED AND INTERIM PAYMENTS MORE QUICKLY MADE.
+TO SEE IF ANY FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE, A MEETING WILL SHORTLY BE HELD BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS' COUNCILS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED, HE SAID,
SIX PER CENT PENSION RISE APPROVED
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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED TWO MOTIONS TO INCREASE BY SIX PER CENT PENSIONS IN PAYMENT ON APRIL 1, THIS YEAF, INCLUDING PREVIOUS INCREASES ALREADY APPROVED.
THE INCREASE IS ESTIMATED TO COST $37.1 MILLION FOR A FULL YEAR.
MOVING THE MOTIONS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO MAINTAIN THE ORIGINAL PURCHASING POWER OF CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS, INCLUDING PENSIONS PAYABLE UNDER THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS PENSION SCHEME AND UNDER THE WIDOWS' AND CHILDREN'S PENSIONS SCHEME.
THIS WAS ACHIEVED BY PERIODIC ADJUSTMENTS TO REFLECT CHANGES IN THE COST OF LIVING.
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DURING THE LATEST REVIEW PERIOD FROM APRIL 1, 1984 TO MARCH 31, 1985, HE SAID, THE MOVING ANNUAL AVERAGE OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) ROSE BY 9.1 POINTS, OR 6.10 PER CENT.
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