WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1990
10
TIMELY TO AMEND PROVISIONS IN EDUCATION ORDINANCE: SEM
* * * * * *
HONG KONG'S EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS DEVELOPED RAPIDLY OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, AND IT IS NOW TIMELY ΤΟ AMEND A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS IN THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE WHICH NOW APPEAR OUT OF DATE, DEFECTIVE OR INAPPROPRIATE, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON K.Y. YEUNG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR YEUNG WAS MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, WHICH HE SAID PROPOSED A VARIETY OF AMENDMENTS. THESE COULD BE GROUPED INTO FOUR CATEGORIES:
* UPDATING OF TERMINOLOGY AND PENALTY LEVELS;
* REMEDYING OF CERTAIN DEFICIENCIES WHICH HAVE EMERGED IN THE
COURSE OF ADMINISTERING THE ORDINANCE;
* REPEAL
SCHOOLS;
OF THE POWER TO REGULATE
POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN
* PROVISION OF AN APPEALS MECHANISM IN RELATION TO POWERS
EXERCISED UNDER REGULATIONS.
MR YEUNG EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESENT ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO, WITH MANY OF ITS PROVISIONS HAVING BEEN TAKEN OVER FROM AN EARLIER ORDINANCE DATING FROM 1952.
HE SAID THE SUBSTANCE OF THE BILL WAS CONTAINED IN FOUR CLAUSES: 3, 6, 9 AND 10.
I
CLAUSES 3, 6 AND 9 WERE INTENDED TO REMEDY DEFICIENCIES IN THREE AREAS.
THE FIRST DEFICIENCY WAS THE LACK, AT PRESENT, OF A PROVISION FOR A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO RESIGN. CLAUSE 3 PROPOSED SUCH A PROVISION.
THE SECOND DEFICIENCY CONCERNED ATTENDANCE ORDERS, SUCH ORDERS WERE INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN OF COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE DID ATTEND SCHOOL, UNLESS THERE WAS A REASONABLE EXCUSE.
"HOWEVER, THE PRESENT WORDING OF SECTION 74(1) REQUIRES THAT A PARENT BE WITHHOLDING A CHILD FROM SCHOOL BEFORE AN ORDER CAN BE SERVED.
"THIS IS UNDULY RESTRICTIVE, AND MAKES IT EASY FOR SOME PARENTS TO DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR CHILD'S TRUANCY.
"CLAUSE 6(1) PROVIDES FOR THE SERVING OF AN ATTENDANCE ORDER WHENEVER A CHILD IS IN FACT NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL AND THERE IS NO REASONABLE EXCUSE.
"THE RIGHT OF A PARENT TO APPEAL AGAINST AN ORDER, HOWEVER, IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS AMENDMENT, HE SAID.
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/MR YEUNG
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