XN000022-1981-10-29 — Page 21

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1981

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*WE ARE LEFT WITH TWO POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES,+ SHE SAID. +EITHER THE STANDARD OF ENGLISH IS UPGRADED IN PRIMARY SCHOOL SO THAT STUDENTS ARE EQUIPPED TO ACCEPT EITHER ENGLISH OR CHINESE AS THE MEDIUM OF TEACHING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, OR, CHILDREN ARE CATEGORIZED INTO CHINESE AND ENGLISH SECONDARY SCHOOLS RESPECTIVELY.+

SHE THOUGHT THE FIRST ALTERNATIVE IS MORE DESIRABLE AS CHILDREN ARE PREPARED FOR A CHOICE WHICH THEY AND THE IR PARENTS ARE FREE TO MAKE UP TO THE AGE OF TWELVE.

ALSO ON THE SUBJECT OF EDUCATION, MRS CHOW SAID THE RECENT INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS CALLS FOR A LONG HARD LOOK AT OUR ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMME.

INFORMATION IS NOW REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY NEEDS IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND THE QUALITY OF HUMAN RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO PLAN TRAINING PROGRAMMES TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

+THIS IS A MATTER OF IMMEDIATE SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE AS THIS AFFECTS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECENT ARRIVALS AND INDIRECTLY THE STABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, SHE SAID,

COMMENTING ON THE FAR-REACHING INFLUENCE OF THE MASS MEDIA, MRS CHOW CALLED FOR A MORE STRUCTURED SYSTEM TO TRAIN THE PROGRAMME WORKERS AND MANAGERS AS WELL AS TO ASSESS THE IR PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.

IT HAS BEEN RECOGNISED RECENTLY BY PEOPLE, BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE BROADCASTING INDUSTRY, THAT PERHAPS THE MASS MEDIA SHOULD BE LOOKED AT MORE CLOSELY AS A MEDIUM NOT ONLY FOR FREE ENTERTAINMENT BUT ALSO FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, SHE SAID.

THERE ARE SOME WHO BELIEVE THAT IT HAS NOT FULFILLED ITS MORAL FUNCTIONS ADEQUATELY, AND FEEL THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXERCISE MORE STRINGENT CONTROL OVER PROGRAMMING.

OTHERS TAKE THE MUCH MORE LIBERAL VIEW THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT OF CENSORSHIP AND EVERY VIEWER SHOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE.

+1 PERSONALLY FEEL THAT GIVEN THE CONTEXT OF HONG KONG AND THE TREMENDOUS INFLUENCE THE MASS MEDIA HAS ON THE MINDS OF OUR PEOPLE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD RETAIN SOME FORM OF CONTROL PROVIDING PARAMETERS WITHIN WHICH CREATIVE FREEDOM IS NOT HAMPERED,+ MRS CHOW URGED.

HOWEVER, SHE ADDED, THE MAIN CONTROL IS IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO CREATE AND SELECT PROGRAMMES, AND IT IS THEY WHO SHOULD ASSUME THE ULTIMATE MORAL RESPONSIBILITY.

SHE NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH COMMERCIAL TELEVISION COMPANIES ARE CONTRACTUALLY BOUND TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROGRAMME, SUCH PERCENTAGES HAVE NEVER BEEN STRICTLY ADHERED TO OF ENFORCED IN PRACTICE.

/THIS HAS