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(d)
(e)
There are numerous activities and contests organised by professional institutions, non-profit-making organisations and community centres relating to the learning and speaking of Putonghua for both children and adults; and
We have put in place a structured Putonghua training programme for the civil service. Our aim is that in the long run, those at the directorate level or with an operational need to use Putonghua would be conversant in it. Our comprehensive training programme involves classroom teaching and self-learning packages. Some 14,000 civil servants benefited from such training in 1995/96 and 21,000 will be trained this
year.
We believe the above efforts will intensify with the increasing importance in the use of Putonghua in Hong Kong. Indeed the Education Commission Report No. 6 has recommended a number of major initiatives to enhance language proficiency including the further expansion of language courses offered by the various adult education and vocational institutions. Government will continue to work closely with the relevant bodies in both the public and private sectors to promote programmes which help enhance language proficiency, including Putonghua.
End
US/HK procurement arrangement
Following is a question by Dr the Hon Law Cheung-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Trade and Industry, Miss Denise Yue, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
It is learnt that several months ago the United States (US) Government prohibited US Government agencies from purchasing products made in Hong Kong by removing Hong Kong from the list of designated countries for the purpose of government procurement made under the US Trade Agreements Act. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council;
(a)
whether it is aware of the reasons for the US Government's move and the estimated loss which the local economy will suffer as a result of such a move, as well as its effect on the local job market; and;