XN000022-1978-03-29 — Page 31

JEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1978

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MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH STRESSED THAT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE SACRIFICED FOR THE SAKE OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL PLACES. SHE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCORD THE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO UPGRADING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AS OVER HALF OF THE FORM 1 PLACES WILL BE BOUGHT IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN 1978-79.

THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBER SUGGESTED THAT TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMMES, BOTH PRE-SERVICE AND IN-SERVICE, BE STRENGTHENED- THAT HELP BE GIVEN TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHICH WANT AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME PROPERLY AIDED, AND THAT THE UNDESIRABLE FLOATING CLASS SYSTEM EE DISCONTINUED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SHE PROPOSED THAT FREE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR ALL EE POSTPONED TEMPORARILY, IF THE GOVERNMENT HAS FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES TO COPE WITH THE OTHER SUGGESTIONS. DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD, A SCHEME FOR FREE PLACES FOR THOSE WHO REALLY NEED THEM SHOULD BE DEVISED TO ENSURE THAT NO HARDSHIP ARISES, SHE SAID.

THIS IS BECAUSE PARENTS WHO CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN SHOULD DO SO AND IN SO DOING, PART OF THE GOVERNMENT FUNDS COULD BE RELEASED FOR USE IN OTHER AREAS SUCH AS IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION.

SHE ALSO HOPED THAT THERE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT SUBSIDISED PLACES AT THE SENIOR SECONDARY LEVEL FOR THOSE WHO WANT IT.

SHE ALSO THOUGHT THAT SCHOOLS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO CHARGE TONG FAI AND OTHER SUBSCRIPTION CHARGES IF THEY SO CHOOSE SO THAT THEY CAN USE THE CHARGES ON IMPROVING SCHOOL FACILITIES AND PROVIDING VARIOUS EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

ON THE COMMUNITY NURSING SCHEME, MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH QUERIED THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S DECISION NOT TO EXPAND THE SERVICE DURING ITS THREE-YEAR EVALUATION PERIOD ENDING 1979-80.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT IN LAST OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, 591 REFERRALS HAD TO BE REJECTED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT STAFF.

+ONE YEAR OF THE THREE-YEAR EVALUATION PERIOD HAS ELAPSED AND A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE DEMAND FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR ASSESSMENT.+

FURTHERMORE, SHE ADDED THE GOVERMENT GREEN PAPER ON SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY HAS RECOMMENDED EARLY EXPANSION OF THE PRESENT RESTRICTED SCOPE OF THE SERVICE AND ESTIMATED THAT NO LESS THAN 91 NURSES WOULD DE REQUIRED IN 1978 AND 130 EY 1986.

ON THE REVENUE PROPOSALS BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH SUPPORTED THE INCREASED TAXATION ON IMPORTED CIGARETTES AND EXPENSIVE CARS AND WANTED IT TO BE EXTENDED TO CTHER LUXURY GOODS.

SHE DISAGREED HOWEVER WITH THE SITUATION WHERE AN ENORMOUS SUM OF $480 MILLION TO BE EXPECTED FROM TAXES ON GAMBLING ACTIVITIES, PARTICULARLY HOPSE RACING.

/SHE POINTED