XN000022-1975-04-23 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1975

APPROPRIATION BILL PASSED AT LEGCO

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THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1975 WAS TODAY PASSED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITH CERTAIN AMENDMENTS AND BECAME LAW.

DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE, DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG NOTED WITH CONCERN THAT THE TWO TECHNICAL INSTITUTES IN KUAT CHUNG AND KWUN TONG WOULD BE OPEN IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR ONLY ON RESTRICTED BASIS WITH 25 PER CENT OF THE STUDENT CAPACITY.

IN REPLY TO THE QUESTIONS RAISED ON THIS TOPIC BY DR. CHUNG, THE HON. KENNETH TOPLEY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, SAID THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO OPERATE A NEW TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AT FULL STEAM FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF OPENING.

HOWEVER, BY CAREFUL RE-PLANNING, HE SAID, IT NOW APPEARS FEASIBLE TO INCREASE USAGE TO A SHADE OVER 30 PER CENT IN BOTH

INSTITUTES.

REGARDING RECRUITMENT OF THESE INSTITUTES, MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT IT WILL BE CONCENTRATED ON PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE CRAFT COURSES SUBJECT TO DEMAND FROM INDUSTRY WHILE FULL-TIME AND EVENING CRAFT COURSES WILL ALSO BE OFFERED.

HE ADDED THAT IF DEMAND FOR PART-TIME DAY RELEASE COURSES IS INSUFFICIENT THEN MORE FULL-TIME COURSES WILL BE INTRODUCED WITH ONE OR TWO OF THESE AT TECHNICIAN LEVEL.

+WHEN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ARE FULLY DEVELOPED THEY WILL ALSO OFFER PART-TIME DAY RELEASE COURSES, FULL-TIME COURSES AND EVENING COURSES AT THE TECHNICIAN LEVEL, + HE SAID.

IN REPLY TO THE POINTS RAISED BY THE HON. MISS KO SI U-WAH REGARDING THE CHILD CARE CENTRES BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. LI FOOK-KOW SAID THAT NO DATE HAS YET BEEN FIXED FOR THIS LEGISLATION TO COME INTO OPERATION.

ALTHOUGH THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE HAS BEEN PERMITTED AN INCREASE IN OVERALL STRENGTH THIS YEAR, MR. LI POINTED OUT THAT IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT THE DIRECTOR WILL BE ABLE TO DEPLOY STAFF FROM OTHER DUTIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENFORCING THE LEGISLATION BY STRENGTHENING THE CHILD CARE ADVISORY SECTION.

+WHEN IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT STAFF CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PURPOSE, APPROVAL WILL BE SOUGHT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NECESSARY POSTS, HE ADDED.

DURING THE

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