7
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1990
"CONSISTENT WITH SIMILAR PROVISIONS IN OTHER LEGISLATION, THIS AMENDMENT WILL PROVIDE THESE BODIES WITH GREATER DISCRETION IN THE HEARING OF CASES BUT THERE WILL BE SAFEGUARDS TO DISCOURAGE FRIVOLOUS ACTIONS ON THE PART OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE PROCEEDINGS, SHE SAID.
"
MRS CHAN SAID SHE WAS GRATEFUL TO THE AD HOC GROUP FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THESE AMENDMENTS.
THE BILL WAS LATER PASSED.
SEM RESPONDS TO OPEN LEARNING INSTITUTE'S CONCERNS
**
K.Y. YEUNG,
ΤΟ CONCERNS UNDERGO
THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RESPONDED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) EXPRESSED BY THE OPEN LEARNING INSTITUTE (OLI) IN HAVING TO ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION THROUGH ITS INCLUSION IN THE HONG KONG FOR ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION BILL 1990.
COUNCIL
SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR YEUNG SAID THE IMPRESSION OF A STRAINED WORKING RELATIONSHIP MIGHT HAVE ARISEN OWING TO THIS CONCERN.
HE SAID HE WAS GLAD THERE WAS NO INHERENT DISAGREEMENT ON THE NEED FOR THE OLI TO UNDERGO ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION.
"INDEED, THE OLI HAD AN INITIAL ACCREDITATION VISIT BY THE UNITED KINGDOM COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL ACADEMIC AWARDS LAST YEAR, HAD BUDGETTED FOR A FURTHER REVIEW THIS YEAR AND HAS INVITED THE HKCAA TO UNDERTAKE IT," HE SAID.
"THE OLI APPEARS TO BE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT, BY ITS INCLUSION IN THE BILL, AN INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW WILL MAKE EXTRA DEMANDS ON ITS FINANCIAL AND STAFF RESOURCES.
THIS COULD NOT BE THE CASE, HE SAID.
"
MR YEUNG SAID GIVEN THAT THE ESTIMATED COST OF AN INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW WAS LESS THAN ONE PER CENT OF THE OLI'S OPERATING BUDGET FOR 1990-91, HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT FUNDING SHOULD BE NO OBSTACLE.
"INDEED, SHOULD THE OLI GENUINELY RUN SHORT, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTER OF THIS COUNCIL WOULD BE SYMPATHETIC ΤΟ A REQUEST FOR A SUPPLEMENTARY SUBVENTION.
/"WHILST I