XN000022-1981-01-30 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1981

GREAT STRIDES MADE IN EDUCATION, SAYS GOVERNOR

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) WE HAD MADE GREAT STRIDES IN EDUCATION.

OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE CHIU LUT SAU MEMORIAL SECONDARY SCHOOL, YUEN LONG, SIR MURRAY SAID NINE YEARS OF FREE EDUCATION WERE GUARANTEED FOR ALL CHILDREN AND LAST YEAR'S 70 PER CENT INCREASE IN FORM IV PLACES BROUGHT US VERY NEAR TO OUR 1982 TARGET THE PROVISION OF SUBSIDISED PLACES FOR 60 PER CENT OF THIS AGE GROUP.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE CHIU LUT SAU MEMORIAL SECONDARY SCHOOL, THE 15TH SECONDARY SCHOOL IN YUEN LONG, WOULD ENSURE THAT THE DISTRICT WAS NOT LEFT BEHIND.

+MOREOVER IT IS A PIONEER IN THAT STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW ONE PRACTICAL OR TECHNICAL SUBJECT UP TO FORM V LEVEL. A BROADENING OF THE CURRICULUM WHICH WILL ALLOW A FULLER DEVELOPMENT OF THE IR TALENTS.+

ON YUEN LONG, SIR MURRAY SAID THE SIGNS OF CONSTRUCTION WERE EVERYWHERE.

+A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE FOR 30 000 PEOPLE WILL OPEN SHORTLY AND ANOTHER IS PLANNED.

+JOBS WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AREA TO THE NORTH AND IN SPECIAL INDUSTRIES ON THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE WHERE LAND IS NOW READY FOR DEVELOPMENT. +

COMMUNICATION TOO WOULD IMPROVE, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY WOULD BE COMPLETED BY 1983, AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR WOULD SEE THE OPENING OF THE TSUEN WAN BYPASS AND COMPLETION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CIRCULAR ROAD TO FANLING.

+THEN, TOO, YOU ARE NEAR THE EXPANDING SPECIAL DISTRICT OF SHENZHEN,+ HE SAID.

YUEN LONG HAD SUFFERED FROM EXCESSIVE IMMIGRATION AND UNPLANNED DEVELOPMENT, SIR MURRAY SAID. THE RESULT HAD BEEN INTRACTIBLE PROBLEMS OF BOTH POLLUTION AND NEGLECTED RURAL SPRAWL.

A STUDY SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN JULY THIS YEAR WHICH WOULD FORM THE BASIS FOR COHERENT DEVELOPMENT FOR THE WHOLE REGION.

SIR MURRAY SAID YUEN LONG DISTRICT WAS RICH IN HISTORIC BUILDINGS, MOSTLY IN FAMILY OWNERSHIP. HE HOPED THAT AS A COMMUNITY THE PEOPLE WOULD THINK OF WAYS IN WHICH THEY COULD BE PRESERVED.

THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD STOOD READY TO RESPOND TO ANY REASONABLE REQUEST,

ON COMMUNITY BUILDING, THE GOVERNOR SAID TO BUILD A COMMUNITY REQUIRED A CORE OF BUILDINGS PROVIDING FOR ACTIVITIES ROUND WHICH THE COMMUNITY COULD FORM ITSELF.

/+HERE YOU