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"Implementation of all Phase One proposals will require additional recurrent expenditure of $21.3 million in the first year rising to $44.4 million on a full year basis, and non-recurrent expenditure of $65 million.
"The implementation of other recommendations in Phases II and III will await the deliberations of SCOLAR and ACTEQ and the resources required will be worked out after firm proposals have been formulated and accepted by the Government," Mr Wong said.
He pointed out that whilst results of long-term measures could not be felt within a short period of time, the implementation of short-term initiatives was expected to bring about improvements in language standards in general, and in particular, at university entrance level after two to three years time.
"The Administration will monitor the situation closely and will undertake a thorough evaluation of the relevant measures in 1998," he said.
of the Mr Wong said he was confident that the implementation recommendations would enhance the language proficiency of Hong Kong's young people and the workforce such that the territory's position as a leading service, financial and economic centre in the Asian Pacific Region would be maintained.
End
$300 million grant for retraining programme proposed
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The government's proposal to make a $300 million grant to the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) reserve fund is to enable the Board to have the necessary financial backing for its current activities and future programmes.
Furthermore, the Government is about to appoint consultants to undertake a comprehensive review of the Employees Retraining Scheme with the aim of fine tuning the Scheme to meet market needs and tightening quality control of the retraining programmes.
This was stated today (Thursday) by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, when speaking to the media at a post-Budget briefing.