XN000022-1977-05-16 — Page 3

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MONDAY, MAY 16, 1977

THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE 6-11 AGE GROUP NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL IS NOT KNOWN. BUT THE 1976 BY-CENSUS ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 11,650 CHILDREN IN THIS AGE GROUP WERE NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL. 1,160 ̊WERE BELIEVED TO BE ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 3,100 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, 3,490 IN KOWLOON AND 3,900 IN THE FISHING AND WATER-BORNE COMMUNITIES.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT SINCE THE BY-CENSUS WAS CONDUCTED DURING THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS, THE STATISTICS MAY EXAGGERATE THE SITUATION.

+NEVERTHELESS, + MR. TOPLEY SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL THESE CHILDREN IN SCHOOL. I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO URGE THESE PARENTS TO BE GOOD CITIZENS OF HONG KONG BY SENDING THE IR PRIMARY AGE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.

+ALL CHILDREN WHO ARE SIX YEARS OLD BY SEPTEMBER SHOULD BE IN PRIMARY 1 AT THE START OF THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR.

+CHILDREN IN THE 6-11 AGE GROUP WHO HAVE NOT ATTENDED SCHOOL SHOULD APPLY FOR ADMISSION NOW,+

NEEDY CHILDREN ARE GIVEN A TEXTBOOK AND STATIONERY GRANT OF $30 A YEAR.

ANY PARENTS WHO ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES IN GAINING ADMISSION FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO PRIMARY SCHOOLS ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS OR THE SUB-OFFICES IN HONG KONG KOWLOON, THE ADDRESSES OF WHICH ARE GIVEN IN A LEAFLET BEING DISTRIBUTED AS PART OF THE CURRENT CAMPAIGN.

COPIES OF THE LEAFLET ARE AVAILABLE AT CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, THE DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, AND, OF COURSE, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

APART FROM STATING THAT ONE OF THE AIMS OF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN IN THE PRIMARY AGE GROUP ARE IN SCHOOL, THE LEAFLET ALSO GIVES ADVICE TO PARENTS.

DURING THE CAMPAIGN, THE MESSAGE IN THE LEAFLET WILL BE DRIVEN HOME IN AN ADVERTISEMENT TO BE TELEVISED ON THE CHINESE CHANNELS OF THE TV STATIONS. SLOGANS IN CHINESE WILL ALSO BE BROADCAST BY RADIO STATIONS.

THE STREET THEATRE RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES WILL BE STAGING A NUMBER OF SHOWS AS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN.

MR. TOPLEY THANKED THE HEADS OF PRIMARY DAY SCHOOLS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE ARRANGEMENT THROUGH WHICH THEY PASS INFORMATION TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT REGARDING CHILDREN WHO THEY SUSPECT MAY HAVE DISCONTINUED SCHOOLING.

+WITH THEIR HELP, MY STAFF AND OFFICERS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TRACE MANY OF THE PUPILS AND TO CARRY OUT INVESTIGATIONS SPEEDILY,

THE DIRECTOR SAID.

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