XN000022-1981-04-08 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1981

SOCIAL SERVICES IMPRESSIVE

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THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT AND CAN NOT OPERATE BY ALLOCATING FIXED PERCENTAGES OF THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE FOR ITS VARIOUS SERVICES, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON E.P. HO, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR HO SAID THE BUDGET EACH YEAR IS CONSTRUCTED ON THE FUNDS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN ON-GOING AND APPROVED NEW SERVICES AND THE EXPANSION OF SERVICES IS BASED ON PROGRAMME PLANS WHICH ARE REVIEWED REGULARLY.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES - EDUCATION. SOCIAL WELFARE, MEDICAL AND HEALTH - WAS IMPRESSIVE AND THERE WERE NO SERIOUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE GENERAL PLANS.

ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG STUDENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, MR HO SAID THE LONGER TERM LOAN SCHEME SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ENSURE THAT FIRST DEGREE AND HIGHER DIPLOMA STUDENTS FROM HONG KONG WISHING TO STUDY IN THE UK WOULD NOT BE PREVENTED FROM DOING SO MERELY BECAUSE OF THE DISPARITY BETWEEN +HOME+ AND OVERSEAS TUITION FEES.

WHILE HONG KONG VALUED THE ACADEMIC LINKS WITH THE UK, IT WAS ALSO REVIEWING THE PROVISION OF ITS OWN HIGHER EDUCATION PLACES, AND THIS MATTER WAS BEING CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW POST-SECONDARY AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF MR KENNETH TOPLEY, HE SAID.

HE AGREED WITH THE HON ALEX WU, HOWEVER, THAT IT WOULD NOT BE SENSIBLE FROM THE EDUCATIONAL POINT OF VIEW FOR HONG KONG TO ATTEMPT TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT IN ALL DISCIPLINES. MR HO ALSO GAVE ASSURANCE THAT ADEQUATE FUNDS WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION AS WELL AS INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.

ON THE QUESTION OF LANGUAGE TEACHING RAISED BY THE REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT, MR HO SAID THERE WAS AN ON-GOING PROGRAMME OF IMPROVEMENT IN TEACHING METHODS IN BOTH LANGUAGES.

A SYLLABUS FOR THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS HAD BEEN PREPARED FROM THE THREE-YEAR WORK OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ADVISER, AND WOULD SHORTLY BE ISSUED TO SCHOOLS FOR COMMENT.

WITH REGARD TO TEXTBOOKS FOR THE TEACHING OF CHINESE AND ENGLISH, HE SAID CERTAIN MEASURES TAKEN TO KEEP A CHECK ON THESE BOOKS HAD RESULTED IN MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN STANDARDS.

ON THE QUESTION OF THE VICE-PRINCIPAL'S SALARY, MR HO SAID THE REPORT NO. 5 OF THE STANDING COMMISSION HAD RECOMMENDED, AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEPTED SALARY ARRANGEMENT THAT HARMED NONE AND SUBSTANTIALLY BENEFITED MANY. HE STRESSED THAT THE STANDING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PAY SCALES OF THE ASSISTANT EDUCATION OFFICER AND EDUCATION OFFICER RANKS AND NOT A REDUCTION IN THE PAY SCALE OF THE SENIOR MASTER RANK.

/HE 3.,ID