XN000022-1981-12-04 — Page 9

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1981

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+WE DO NOT YET KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THIS SITUATION, BUT FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, IT IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE THAT WE DO, MR HAYE SAID.

IN RECOGNITION OF THIS NEED, PROVISION HAS BEEN BUILT INTO THE +LANGUAGE PACKAGE+ FOR RESEARCH INTO THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION, A PROGRAMME IS NOW BE ING PREPARED BY THE EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE LANGUAGE RESEARCH EXPERTISE IN THE LOCAL TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.

+THIS RESEARCH WILL NOT BE EASY, NOR, IF IT IS TO BE SOUND AND COMPREHENSIVE, CAN IT BE DONE OVERNIGHT. IT WILL BE A FEW YEARS BEFORE ALL ITS FINDINGS ARE COMPLETE. IT WILL, HOWEVER, BE CONDUCTED WITH THE URGENCY ITS IMPORTANCE DEMANDS,+ MR HAYE SAID.

THE DIRECTOR NOTED WITH INTEREST THAT IN ST STEPHEN'S AT LEAST THE REMOVAL OF PUBLIC TESTS IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH AT THE END OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOL COURSE HAD NOT LED TO A FALL IN STANDARDS BUT HAD THE OPPOSITE EFFECT DUE TO SENSIBLE AND IMAGINATIVE TEACHING.

MR HAYE FELT THAT THIS FACT WAS WORTH PUBLICISING IN THE HOPE THAT OTHER SCHOOLS WOULD FOLLOW.

+ THE ST STEPHEN'S EXPERIENCE IS ALSO WORTH REMEMBERING IN THE CURRENT DISCUSSIONS ON THE NEED TO RE INTRODUCE SOME FORM OF PUBLIC ATTAINMENT TESTS AT PRIMARY SIX, HE SAID.

TWO BUILDINGS TO BE RESUMED FOR MTR WORK

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TWO POST-WAR FIVE-STOREY BUILDINGS AT NOS. 1, 1A AND 3 EAST POINT ROAD WILL BE RESUMED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY ISLAND LINE.

THE BUILDINGS ARE WITHIN A LARGE AREA OF LAND AT THE JUNCTION OF EAST POINT ROAD WITH HENNESSY ROAD, GREAT GEORGE STREET AND LOCKHART ROAD WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAUSEWAY BAY STATION CONCOURSE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID A PROPOSAL FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS SITE WITH THE MTRC WAS MADE TO THE OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED PROPERTIES. BUT DESPITE PROTRACTED NEGOTIATIONS, THEY FAILED TO REACH A CONCENSUS TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MTRC. THEY WERE FULLY AWARE OF THE RESUMPTION WHICH HAD NOW BECOME NECESSARY IN ORDER NOT TO HOLD UP THE CONSTRUCTION WORK.

THE GROUND FLOORS OF THE BUILDINGS ARE USED AS SHOPS AND THE UPPER FLOORS ARE MAINLY OCCUPIED BY TWO APARTMENT HOUSES. ONLY SIX FAMILIES WILL BE AFFECTED. THEY WILL BE ENTITLED TO REHOUSING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S POLICY. IN ADDITION STATUTORY COMPENSATION WILL BE PAID TO THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIB

THE TWO BUILDINGS WILL BE REVERTED TO THE CROWN LATER HIS ΜΟΝΤΗ,