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Education for children from China
Following is a question by the Hon Tik Chi-yuen and a reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Michael Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Regarding the Government's recent
announcement that the Chinese
Government will increase the quota of one-way permits to enable some children to settle in the territory, will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
whether it has taken into account the education needs of these children in formulating education policies;
(b)
what measures have been put in place to cope with the increased demand for school places; and
(c)
Reply:
Mr President,
(a)
(b)
whether any measures will be formulated to help such children and their parents to settle down in the territory; if so, how much will it cost for implementing these measures and what is the timetable for implementation?
.
The needs arising from the increase in Chinese immigrant children have been taken into account in formulating various aspects of education. policies.
Based on past statistics on the profile of immigrants from China, the Education Department has fully assessed the capacity of the present system to cope with the revised forecast demand and the need for additional school places. The Government has now earmarked capital expenditure of $208 million for building 5 new primary schools for completion in 1997/98. It will also conduct a review of longer term requirements in 1996 in the light of more information on new arrivals. In the meantime, any additional demand for school places will be met by existing school vacancies and extra places made available by the decline in secondary school population from 1996.
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