XN000022-1975-03-07 — Page 4

FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1975.

12 NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

TWELVE NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHICH ARE AT VARIOUS STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION WILL PROVIDE SOME 11,000 MORE PLACES FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN DURING THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.

FUNDS FOR THESE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED AND ASSISTED PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE 1975-76 DRAFT ESTIMATES AND ALLOW FOR THE EXPANSION OF EDUCATION SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH PRESENT APPROVED POLICIES.

THE TOTAL BUILDING COST OF THESE SCHOOLS IS MORE THAN $65,300,000. FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT WILL REQUIRE ANOTHER $6,600,000.

+AT LEAST 80 PER CENT OF THESE COSTS ARE BEING BORNE BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE BALANCE IS BEING MET BY THE SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

TWO OF THE NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNDER CONSTRUCTION ARE ON HONG KONG ISLAND, FIVE IN KOWLOON AND FIVE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN THE SECONDARY FIELD IS THE INCLUSION IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 36 ASSISTED PRIVATE NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS TO ENABLE THEM TO CONVERT DY STAGES TO FULLY SUBSIDIZED STATUS UNDER THE UNIFIED CODE OF AID FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

PENDING LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THIS COMMITMENT IN THE APPROPRIATION BILL, THE FIRST STAGE OF THE SCHEME SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROCEED IN SEPTEMBER 1975, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

ABOUT 42,000 PLACES ARE PROVIDED IN THESE 36 SCHOOLS.

PARTY FOR 1,000 CHILDREN

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THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD PARTY FOR CHILDREN OF ITS STAFF MEMBERS ON SUNDAY (MARCH 9) AT THE DEPARTMENT'S COMPOUND IN OIL STREET, NORTH POINT.

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THE PARTY, AN ANNUAL EVENT, WILL BE ATTENDED BY SOME 1,000 CHILDREN. PROGRAMMES WILL INCLUDE MUSIC BY THE CAPE COLLINSON BOYS BAND AND THE A.M.S. BAND, BICYCLE PERFORMANCE, SIDE SHOWS, A LION DANCE, CARTOON SHOWS AND MULE RIDES.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COVER THE PARTY WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 1.30 P.M.