WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1988
39
FOREIGN SECRETARY TO VISIT HONG KONG
THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT WAS ISSUED IN LONDON AT 7.30 PM TODAY WEDNESDAY, HONG KONG TIME):
"SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, QC, MP, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, WILL VISIT HONG KONG FROM 29 TO 31 MAY."
AND
NEW SCHEME TO SUBSIDISE STUDENTS' TRAVEL
A NEW
SCHEME то
SUBSIDISE
STUDENTS'
TRAVEL
ON
EDUCATION-RELATED TRIPS WILL BE INTRODUCED WHEN THE EXISTING STUDENT TRAVEL CARDS EXPIRE ON OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR.
THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE NEW SCHEMES ARE:
*
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE PROVIDED TO FULL-TIME STUDENTS AGED BETWEEN 12 AND 24 WHO HAVE NOT YET COMPLETED THEIR FIRST DEGREE FOR TRIPS BETWEEN HOME AND PLACE OF STUDY AND FOR SOME EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
THE ASSISTANCE WILL BE PAID TO PARENTS OF FULL-TIME STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND то FULL-TIME INDIVIDUAL POST-SECONDARY, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND TERTIARY STUDENTS WHO HAVE TO TAKE TRANSPORT TO SCHOOL AND ARE LIABLE TO PAY FULL FARE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
THE ASSISTANCE WILL BE CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF AVERAGE FARES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT WITHIN AND BETWEEN DISTRICTS AND WILL COVER 14 TRIPS A WEEK DURING SCHOOL TERM TIME.
"THE NEW SCHEME WILL PROVIDE ELIGIBLE STUDENTS WITH APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE REQUIRED FARES FOR 10 TRIPS A WEEK FOR STUDY PURPOSES AND FOUR ADDITIONAL TRIPS FOR EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES,' A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
"THIS IS CONSIDERED REASONABLE SINCE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN FACT UNDERTAKE MANY SUCH ACTIVITIES AFTER SCHOOL ON THE SCHOOL PREMISES.*
++
HE ADDED THAT AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO PROMOTE AND FACILITATE ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND RELATED EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, IT HAD BEEN DECIDED THAT MEANS-TESTING, AS PREVIOUSLY
SHOULD NOT BE MADE PART OF THE NEW SCHEME.
PROPOSED,
THE ASSISTANCE