Comments and suggestions on the draft Guidelines are welcome and should be sent to the School Activities Section, Advisory Inspectorate Division, Education Department at Room 934, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai on or before December 4, 1996.
It is expected that the finalised Guidelines could be ready for issue to schools in January 1997.
While the draft Guidelines give a comprehensive account of the organisation of extra-curricula activities in schools, more information on safety aspects of outdoor activities can be found in the Guidelines on Outdoor Activities which were issued to schools on September 25, 1996.
Meanwhile, the Education Department will organise three seminars on November 5 and 8, 1996 on the two sets of Guidelines so school heads and teachers can exchange views and share experiences.
End
Demographic trends in Hong Kong
A feature article entitled "Demographic trends in Hong Kong 1986-1995" was published in the October 1996 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics. which is now available on sale.
The feature highlighted the salient features of the population growth and structure as well as the trends in fertility, mortality and nuptiality in Hong Kong during the period 1986-1995.
The article noted the increase in population of Hong Kong from 5.53 million in 1986 by some 0.63 million to 6.16 million in 1995 and new developments in the demongraphic trends concomitant with this population growth, including:
Aging of the population continued with the fertility rate remained at a very low level in recent years;
Mortality situation continued to improve with the expectation of life at birth gradually edging up in Hong Kong, which, by international standards, is now one of the lowest mortality territories.
Delay in marriage still prevailed
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marriage rates of bachelors and spinsters had decreased but the re-marriage rates of divorced or widowed persons had increased.