XN000022-1981-01-21 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1981

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PREPARATIONS FOR COMING URBCO ELECTION

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THE RETURNING OFFICER APPOINTED FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS WILL SHORTLY ANNOUNCE A DAY IN MARCH THIS YEAR FOR THE FORTHCOMING ELECTION AND WILL RECEIVE NOMINATIONS OF CANDIDATES.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JACK CATER IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SIR JACK EXPLAINED THAT IF THE PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WERE TO BE IMPLEMENTED, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO MAKE TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE SIX URBAN COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE ELECTED IN MARCH SHOULD COMPLETE THE IR TERM OF OFFICE IN TWO AND NOT FOUR YEARS' TIME AS PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE LAW.

THE BILL IS INTRODUCED SO AS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO MAY WISH TO RUN FOR THE COMING ELECTION, AND THE PUBLIC, KNOW CLEARLY THAT THE ELECTION IS FOR A TERM OF OFFICE OF TWO YEARS.

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MANY MORE JOIN SCHOOL MEDICAL SCHEME

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THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME, WHICH IS SCHOOL-BASED, VOLUNTARY AND CONTRIBUTORY, HAS RECORDED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ENROLMENT IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR THE HON K.L. THONG, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON WONG LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

DR THONG SAID THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF NEARLY 40 000 PUPILS IN ENROLMENT OR 30 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING PUPILS TO ABOUT 200 000.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE AIM OF THE SCHEME, WHICH IS HEAVILY SUBSIDISED BY THE GOVERNMENT, IS TO PROVIDE ECONOMICAL MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR PUPILS FROM PRIMARY 1 TO FORM 3 IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT POLICY OF FREE EDUCATION.

UNDER THE SCHEME, HE SAID, A PUPIL IS REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE ONLY $5 A YEAR WHILE THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTRIBUTION IS $30 PER PUPIL PER YEAR.

DR THONG ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD AGREED TO INCREASE ITS CONTRIBUTION TO $50 FROM APRIL 1 THIS YEAR.

THE ARRANGEMENTS UNDER THE SCHEME ARE FOR A REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SCHEME ON APPLICATION TO THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE BOARD, WHICH IS AN INDEPENDENT STATUTORY BODY.

THE DOCTOR