XN000022-1980-01-30 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1980

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE PROVISION TO BE DELETED DATED BACK TO 1884 ALTHOUGH THE WORDS AND PHRASES INCLUDED THEREIN HAD BEEN AMENDED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, THE LAST OF WHICH WAS IN 1936.

*WHEN THE 1936 BILL WAS DEBATED IN THIS COUNCIL, THE LATE SIR M.K. LO PROPOSED TO REPEAL THE PROVISION ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT WAS BOTH UNNECESSARY AND DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST THE CHINESE LANGUAGE. HIS MOTION WAS DEFEATED BY 15 VOTES TO ONE, HE SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

REPAYMENT TO STUDENT LOAN FUND PROCEEDING WELL

*****

NEARLY $230 MILLION HAD BEEN PAID OUT IN OVER 100 000 LOANS TO STUDENTS AT THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, THE POLYTECHNIC AND THE APPROVED POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES BUT ONLY LESS THAN $30 000 IN IRRECOVERABLE DEBTS WAS REQUIRED TO BE WRITTEN OFF, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY REY THE HON JOYCE BENNETT,

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE BELIEVED REPAYMENT OF THESE LOANS WAS PROCEEDING SATISFACTORILY.

THERE WERE ONLY TWO CASES IN WHICH IT HAD BEEN NECESSARY TO REFER THE CLAIMS TO THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL AND HEARINGS WERE PENDING, HE ADDED.

ON ACTION TAKEN AGAINST STUDENTS WHO FAIL TO MAINTAIN REPAYMENT, SIR PHILIP POINTED OUT THAT STUDENTS WHO DEFAULTED ON THEIR OBLIGATIONS WITHOUT GOOD REASON WERE PURSUED.

HE SAID, A LOAN IS DEEMED TO BE IN ARREARS WHEN TWO CONSECUTIVE INSTALMENTS OF THE REPAYMENT HAVE BEEN MISSED.

+WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE CASE IS REFERRED, BY THE TREASURY, TO EITHER THE SECRETARIAT OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, IF THE CASE INVOLVES A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OR THE POLYTECHNIC OR TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, IF IT INVOLVES A STUDENT AT ONE OF THE APPROVED POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES.

+STAFF IN THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE THEN RESPONSIBLE FOR INITIATING ENQUIRIES TO DETERMINE WHY REPAYMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.

HE NOTED THAT AT PRESENT, THERE WERE 176 CASES OF ARREARS OF REPAYMENTS, INVOLVING SOME $215 000. IN MOST CASES ARREARS WERE DUE TO A FAILURE TO NOTIFY THE TREASURY OF A CHANGE OF ADDRESS, WITH THE RESULT THAT REPAYMENT NOTICES WERE WRONGLY DELIVERED.

+SUBSEQUENT ENQUIRIES WITH GUARANTORS, NEIGHBOURS AND EMPLOYERS USUALLY RESULT IN CONTACT BE ING RE-ESTABLISHED AND REPAYMENTS RESUMED, HE SAID.

+ IN A MINORITY OF CASES, WHICH INVOLVE PERSISTENT DEFAULTERS IT IS NECESSARY TO REFER THE DETAILS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO, AFTER ISSUE OF FORMAL WARNING LETTERS MAY INITIATE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS FOR RECOVERY OF THE DEBT, HE ADDED.

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