XN000022-1979-04-11 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1979

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MR. TOPLEY REPLIED THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INSPECTORATE POSTS BUT A FIRM DECISION WOULD BE TAKEN ONLY AFTER A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE STAFF REQUIREMENTS OF ALL THE SECTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT KEEPING IN MIND THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS NO UNNECESSARY EXPANSION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.

TURNING TO THE EDUCATION OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING CHILDREN, MR. TOPLEY SAID:

+1 KNOW OF THE PROBLEM FACED BY THIS SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY -- BUT I DO NOT ACCEPT THAT THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUAL SUBSIDY SHOULD BE FURTHER REVIEWED.

+THE GOVERNMENT IS, HOWEVER, AWARE OF THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PARENTS OF THE HIGHER FEE LEVELS WHICH ARISE FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARITY OF SUBSIDY POLICY,

+ THE PRESENT INTENTION SUBJECT TO THE AGREEMENT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE IS TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE CURRENT FEE REMISSION SCHEME FOR THE ENGLISH SCHOOLS TO BE PAID FROM PUBLIC FUNDS AS HERETOFORE FOR THOSE PUPILS ALREADY WITHIN THE SYSTEM AND FOR THOSE NEW PUPILS FOR WHOM NO OTHER SUITABLE EDUCATION IS AVAILABLE.

+PARENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE HIGHER LEVEL OF FEES MAY CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR REMISSION SO THAT ALL CASES OF REAL HARDSHIP SHOULD BE MET.+

OF CHINESE CHILDREN WHO RETURNED TO HONG KONG AFTER STARTING PRIMARY EDUCATION OVERSEAS, MR. TOPLEY SAID THERE WAS PROBABLY A NEED TO PROVIDE MORE SCHOOLS FOR SUCH CHILDREN WHOSE CHINESE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO SURVIVE COMFORTABLY IN THE ANGLO-CHINESE SYSTEM AND ALTERNATIVES WERE NOW BEING STUDIED.

+NEVERTHELESS AT PRESENT IN ANGLO-CHINESE SCHOOLS FRENCH OR ANOTHER FOREIGN LANGUAGE IS PROVIDED FOR THOSE PUPILS WHO CANNOT COPE WITH CHINESE, A QUICK SURVEY SHOWS THAT THERE ARE 411 AND 396 SUCH CHILDREN, MAINLY CHINESE, STUDYING IN 21 AIDED SECONDARY AND 15 AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS, THE DIRECTOR SAID.

ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION, MR. TOPLEY REFERRED TO THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED WHITE PAPER ON EDUCATION AND SAID THERE WOULD BE SUBSIDISED PLACES IN SCHOOLS, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES. ADULT EDUCATION CENTRES AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR VIRTUALLY EVERY YOUNG PERSON IN THE 15-16 AGE GROUP BY THE MID-1980'S.

*THE NUMBER OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTES TO BE PROVIDED IS BASED ON MANPOWER SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL. AT PRESENT, A SIXTH TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IS PLANNED WHICH WILL BE SITUATED IN TUEN MUN. THIS WILL I HOPE BE COMPLETED IN 1984.

+THERE IS ALREADY ONE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES NAMELY AT KWAI CHUNG. IT IS ALSO COMPARATIVELY EASY FOR RESIDENTS OF SHA TIN AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS TO COMMUTE THROUGH THE LION ROCK TUNNEL TO THE LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IN KOWLOON TONG WHICH SHOULD BE FULLY COMPLETED IN MARCH 1980, + MR. TOPLEY SAID.

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