XN000022-1976-11-16 — Page 4

+

THE DIRECTOR, HOWEVER, MADE THIS COMMENT: + BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF COMPLAINT HERE IS THAT IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO DO WHAT IT ALWAYS SAID IT INTENDED TO DO.+

NEVERTHELESS HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE SOME PARENTS WHO PREFERRED TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AND THAT THERE WOULD ACCORDINGLY ALWAYS BE A ROLE FOR THEM.

+WHAT IS MORE, HE POINTED OUT, THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING SUBSIDISED EDUCATION FOR ALL UP TO FORM 3 AND FOR 40 PER CENT GOING ON TO FORMS 4 AND 5 IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR SO THAT THERE WILL REMAIN A ROLE FOR INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS PARTICULARLY IN FORMS 4, 5 AND 6 AND IN TEACHING THE VARIOUS PRACTICAL SKILLS WHICH PEOPLE NEED TO EARN A LIVING.+

MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT THIS WAS THE CASE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS WHERE THERE WERE A FREE PLACE AVAILABLE FOR ALL IN EITHER AN AIDED OR GOVERNMENT SCHOOL BUT THERE WERE STILL 300 PRIVATE FEE-PAYING PRIMARY SCHOOLS WITH NEARLY 100,000 PUPILS IN THEM. THIS WAS A CHOICE BY THE PARENTS CONCERNED.

THE DIRECTOR CONCLUDED: +1 PERSONALLY LOOK FORWARD TO A CONTINUING DIALOGUE WITH INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AND THEIR ASSOCIATIONS TO MEET AND OVERCOME OUR PROBLEMS AND DIFFERENCES. NEVERTHELESS

I BELIEVE OUR BASIC POLICIES ARE RIGHT, PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS PROVIDE A USEFUL COMMUNITY SERVICE BUT THEY CANNOT BE THE PERMANENT CENTRE PIECE OF OUR EDUCATIONAL PLANS.+

DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED

****

THE ACTING GOVERNOR, AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON MAY 7, 1976 ON WONG KWAN-TAI SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.

WONG WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF LEE AH-LOI.

IN ANOTHER CASE, THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON APRIL 14, 1976 ON LAU MIU-YIN, WHO WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF CHUNG STU- WAH, WAS COMMUTED TO A TERM OF 12 YEARS' IMPRISONMENT.

0

14