XN000022-1980-12-17 — Page 14

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EVERYTHING REASONABLE DONE TO EXPLAIN NEED FOR CLEARANCES

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ALL REASONABLE EFFORTS ARE MADE TO EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE CONCERNED, AND TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE REASONS FOR CLEARANCES OF SQUATTERS ON CROWN LAND REQUIRED FOR DEVELOPMENT.

THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO, GAVE THIS ASSURANCE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN.

HE POINTED OUT THAT AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WAS INVOLVED IN VARIOUS STAGES OF 80 CLEARANCE OPERATIONS.

+ IN ALL CASES, CONSIDERABLE EFFORTS ARE MADE TO EXPLAIN FULLY TO ALL THOSE IMMEDIATELY CONCERNED THE APPROPRIATE REPROVISIONING AND CASH ENTITLEMENTS, AND THE REASONS FOR THE CLEARANCES, + HE SAID.

+THE FACT THAT SO FEW OF THE MANY CLEARANCES BEING UNDERTAKEN COME TO THE NOTICE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS AN INDICATION OF THE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WHICH EXISTS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND THOSE AFFECTED.+

WHEN PUBLIC INTEREST IS AROUSED OVER A PARTICULAR CLEARANCE, GOVERNMENT INFORMATION OUTLETS SUCH AS GIS AND RTHK MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO FULLY EXPLAIN THE BACKGROUND TO THE CLEARANCE, AND THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR REPROVISIONING AND COMPENSATION, HE SAID.

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SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR'S ROLE RECOGNISED

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THE SENIOR MASTER/MISTRESS AND EDUCATION OFFICER GRADES IN SCHOOLS HAVE NOW BEEN COMBINED RESULTING IN A LEVELLING UPWARDS OF THE PAY SCALE OF THE LATTER IN ADDED RECOGNITION OF THEIR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, THE HON COLVYN HAYE, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION RAISED BY THE REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT CONCERNING THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED 5TH REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.

MR HAYE SAID. THAT SENIOR MASTERS/MISTRESSES IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS AND VICE-PRINCIPALS IN AIDED SCHOOLS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE RECOGNISED FINANCIALLY AS THEY WERE NOW ON THE MASTER PAY SCALE UP TO POINT 43.

+THE STANDING COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED, AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED, THAT THE PREVIOUS DISTINCTION BETWEEN SENIOR MASTER/MISTRESS AND EDUCATION OFFICER SCALES BE REMOVED BECAUSE FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO RANKS ARE NOT THOUGHT TO WARRANT SEPARATE SCALES, HE SAID.

SCHOOL MANAGEMENT, HE ADDED, OUGHT TO FIND THE IMPROVED SCALE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE FREER ALLOCATION OF DUTIES.

+I WELCOME IT FOR THE CAREER INCENTIVES IT SUPPLIES AND THE WIDER CHOICE IT AFFORDS IN THE SELECTION OF PRINCIPALS, + HE SAID.

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