XN000022-1980-06-11 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 1980 -

MORE LAB TECHNICIANS FOR SCHOOLS

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PROPOSALS REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF LABORATORY TECHNICIANS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS WILL BE TABLED AT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT STAFF CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL ON JUNE 18, THE HON KENNETH TOPLEY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SAID TODAY.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED IN HIS REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

*THE PROPOSED ALTERATION TO THE MANNING SCALE WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LABORATORY TECHNICIAN POSTS IN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND THERE WILL BE A MINOR AMENDMENT TO CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, MR TOPLEY SAID.

THE PROPOSALS ARE BASED ON A REPORT SUBMITTED IN MAY LAST YEAR BY A WORKING GROUP IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SET UP TO LOOK INTO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LABORATORY TECHNICIANS IN SCHOOLS WHERE THE NEW CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT SYLLABUSES FOR INTEGRATED SCIENCE ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED.

THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO SUBMIT THE PROPOSALS TO THE FINANCE AND CIVIL SERVICE BRANCHES FOR CONSIDERATION, MR TOPLEY SAID. AND ULTIMATELY THE DECISION TO APPROVE THE NEW MANNING SCALE AND THE PROVISION OF THE NECESSARY FUNDS WOULD REST WITH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

+1 CANNOT SAY THEREFORE WITH ANY DEGREE OF CERTAINTY WHETHER ADDITIONAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS WILL BE IN POST IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS THIS SEPTEMBER, HE SAID.

COMMISSIONER OF TRADE RETURNS FROM CHINA

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THE COMMISSIONER OF TRADE, MR PETER TSAO HAS RETURNED FROM A VISIT TO CHINA.

MR TSAO VISITED PEKING LAST WEEK AT THE INVITATION OF THE CHINA TEXTILE IMPORT AND EXPORT CORPORATION FOR INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS.

*THE DISCUSSIONS WERE CONFINED TO TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE QUOTA CONTROL SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR FLEXIBILITY PROVISIONS AND OTHER WAYS AND MEANS TO MAXIMISE THE UTILISATION OF THE RESTRAINT LIMIT SET OUT IN BILATERAL AGREEMENTS, SAID MR TSAO.

+WE ALSO EXCHANGED VIEWS ON THE MULTILATERAL ASPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN TEXTILE, HE ADDED.

MR TSAO HELD SIMILAR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CORPORATION'S OFFICIALS IN SHANGHAI WHEN HE VISITED THE CITY ON MONDAY.

MR TSAO WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER IN CHARGE OF TRADE CONTROLS, MR DANIEL SUM.

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