XN000022-1979-01-24 — Page 25

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1979

PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL LIBRARY SERVICE

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THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING A SET OF PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR SETTING UP A GREATLY IMPROVED LIBRARY SERVICE TO SCHOOLS, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION THE HON. KENNETH TOPLEY, TOLD THE LÉGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT, MR. TOPLEY SAID THE PROPOSALS INCLUDED INCREASED STAFF FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S LIBRARY SECTION TO ENABLE IT TO TRAIN SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND ADVISE ALL SCHOOLS ON THE MANAGEMENT, ORGANISATION AND MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM MISS BENNETT, MR, TOPLEY SAID THE PROPOSALS ALSO INCLUDED THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ADDITIONAL POST IN EVERY GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOL TO ENABLE A STAFF MEMBER TO TAKE FULL CHARGE OF THE LIBRARY.

+ INCREASES IN THE PRESENT PER CAPITA LIBRARY GRANTS IN GOVERN- MENT AND AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND THE INTRODUCTION OF SUCH GRANTS FOR CLASS 4-6 PUPILS IN GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS HAVE ALSO BEEN PROPOSED, MR. TOPLEY SAID.

+BOTH OF THESE MEASURES WOULD BE PHASED IN OVER A PERIOD OF SIX YEARS, HE ADDED.

DEATH INQUESTS

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THE SOLICITOR GENERAL THE HON. G.C. THORNTON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IT WOULD NOT BE BENEFICIAL FOR HONG KONG TO MOVE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM POSITION OF MANDATORY DEATH INQUESTS.

REPLYING TO THE HON. T.S. LO, HE SAID THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD FOR SOME TIME CONSIDERED THE CORONERS ORDINANCE AND THE WAY IT WORKED.

MR. THORNTON NOTED THAT IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES AN INQUEST IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WAS MANDATORY WHEREAS IN HONG KONG THE HOLDING OF AN INQUEST DEPENDED ON THE EXERCISE OF THE DISCRETION OF A CORONER.

SO FAR AS HE WAS AWARE, +CORONERS ARE EXERCISING THIS DISCRETION SATISFACTORILY, MR. THORNTON SAID.

+THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS ALSO SAFEGUARDED IN THAT DEATH REPORTS IN WHICH AN INQUEST IS NOT ORDERED ARE PERUSED BY PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.+

+ IN A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF CASES, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL EXERCISES HIS STATUTORY RIGHT TO REQUIRE THAT AN INQUEST BE HELD, HE ADDED,

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