CO129-586-3 Grant of subsidies to vernacular schools 4-6-1940 - 7-8-1941 — Page 6

Hansard report 7p-8-41

6.

Extract from

HON. MR. LI TSE-FONG asked:

With regard to the new Grant and Subsidy Codes for schools which have been recently approved by the Secretary of State, will Government take steps to make the necessary financial provisions to bring them into effect from 1st September, 1941?

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY replied:-

Consequent upon the receipt of the Secretary of State's general approval of the new Grant and Subsidy Codes, which was telegraphed on 25th June, 1941, the Board of Education has already on the 18th of July recommended action on the lines of the Honourable Member's present question.

As regards the Subsidies for Vernacular Schools this presents no difficulty as the appropriate financial provision had been made in the current Estimates and this has already received the Government's approval.

The question of Grants-in-Aid is a less simple one. As far as can be estimated at present the implementation of the new Code as from 1st September, 1941, will involve a Supplementary Vote of considerably more than $400,000 and the Government cannot assume at the present stage the concurrence of the Finance Committee of this Council for such an expenditure and cannot therefore give an affirmative reply to the Honourable Member's question in this respect. The matter will, however, be further examined without delay.

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