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Promotion of Basic Law
Following is a question by Dr the Hon Tang Siu-tong and a reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
In view of the fact that the territory's sovereignty will revert to China in less than three years, will the Government inform this Council whether :
Reply:
(a)
(b)
(c)
it has formulated any publicity plan to promote widely the Basic Law among the public in a systematic manner; if so, what the details of the plan are; if not, why not;
the Education Department will include the provisions of the Basic Law in the secondary school curriculum before 1997; if so, what the progress is; and
non-government organisations may seek financial assistance from the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education to promote civic education activities relating to the theme of "the reversion of the territory's sovereignty to China and the promotion of the Basic Law"?
The importance of the Basic Law is well recognised by the Government. Efforts are made to promote awareness of the Basic Law in the context of school education, in our promotion of Civic Education and also our training for civil servants.
The Committee for the Promotion of Civic Education is responsible for the promotion of civic education in Hong Kong. This involves enabling the public to have a better understanding of the social, political, economic and legal systems under which Hong Kong is governed. An important objective for the Committee, therefore, is to promote public awareness of the Basic Law and the guarantees that it provides for Hong Kong's systems and way of life.
The Committee participates in Basic Law programmes. It has, since 1991, sponsored through its Community Participation Scheme, a number of worthwhile Basic Law projects put forward by community groups and Non- Government Organisations. Another such project will receive the Committee's sponsorship in 1995/96 and other bids are welcome.