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Governor: No, we can give the Honourable Member the statistic of those who are claiming the benefit to which they are entitled because of need extremely easily. If the Honourable Member thinks that is an accurate definition of the problem, then so be it. Others would dispute that proposition. But it is the literal, statutory, precise, targeted, well-delineated answer to the question.
Mr
Mr Timothy Ha Wing-ho (through interpreter): Thank you Mr President. Governor, my question is: for pre-school education, now that will be managed by the Social Welfare Department and the Education Department, what sort of work will be done in synchronising or unification of the work and will there be a deadline?
Governor: As the Honourable Member, I think, knows because he takes a particularly close interest in these matters, we have set up a working party to deal with this question. We have broadened the membership of the working party in order to try to ensure that we get as comprehensive and swift a response as possible. Obviously, we don't want to sacrifice quality for speed but we also recognise that this Council feels very strongly on the subject we noted the debate the other day on this subject - so we will want to give a reply as quickly as we can.
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Mr Tik Chi-yuen (through interpreter): Thank you Mr President. I am pleased to learn from the Governor that he is very concerned about pre-primary school education and work will be done very soon. But there are a lot of difficulties in the unification of the problem, especially when this involves two policy branches and two departments. Will there be competition between the two departments? And also, will the problem be complicated? So, will this be done as speedily as possible? And also, on direct subsidy for kindergartens, this has been in discussion for a long time and in the Policy Address there was mention that in 1995 a decision will be taken on how these kindergartens will be subsidised. But Mr Governor, as you know, in the Education sector, and parents, they want this to be done as quickly as possible. Our motion debate also calls for the implementation of direct subsidy in 1995 and the Secretary for Education and Manpower said that the implementation of this programme, the decision will be taken by the end of this year. Mr Governor, can you tell us today the · Government is committed in implementing the Direct Subsidy Scheme in 1995 so that kindergarten teachers and parents and also students would be able to receive this Christmas present?
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