XN000022-1982-08-24 — Page 8

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1962

- 7

SECOND, REGISTERED ELECTORS WHO HAVE LIVED IN HONG KONG FOR TEN YEARS OR MORE MAY STAND AS CANDIDATES THEMSELVES.

HE POINTED OUT THAT MANY OF THE CANDIDATES COULD TRULY AND ADEQUATELY REPRESENT THE INTERESTS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE MAN IN THE STREET+.

STRESSING THAT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION WAS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME, MR LAM URGED REGISTERED ELECTORS TO COME FORWARD TO VOTE ON THE POLLING DAY ON SEPTEMBER 23 BETWEEN 7 AM AND 11 PM.

THE FACT THAT OVER 700 000 PEOPLE HAD REGISTERED AS ELECTORS INDICATED THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WERE BECOMING MORE SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS, AND THE GOOD RESPONSE SHOWN IN THE NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES PERHAPS REFLECTED A GROWING INTEREST IN THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS AMONG THE POPULATION AT LARGE, HE SAID.

ONE FOR

THERE WILL BE 76 VACANCIES IN THE COMING ELECTIONS EACH OF THE 76 CONSTITUENCIES THAT MAKE UP THE TEN URBAN DISTRICTS,

FUNDS APPROVED FOR ADULT EDUCATION COURSES

*****

THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED A SUM OF OVER $1 MILLION FOR A NUMBER OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO RUN EDUCATION COURSES FOR ADULTS ON A PERMANENT ANNUALLY RECURRENT BASIS WITH EFFECT FROM THE 1982-83 ACADEMIC YEAR.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT SUCH GRANTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED ON AN ANNUALLY RECURRENT BASIS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THE MOVE WAS TO ENABLE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO PLAN EFFECTIVELY FOR THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF STAFF, ACCOMMODATION AND COURSES.

HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD APPROVED SUBVENTIONS FOR 28 VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO RUN A TOTAL OF 47 ADULT EDUCATION COURSES IN THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR.

THESE COURSES INCLUDE BASIC LITERACY IN CHINESE, GENERAL EDUCATION FOR PARTICULAR GROUPS, SUCH AS FISHERFOLK, RE-ORIENTATION COURSES FOR NEW COMERS TO HONG KONG, SOCIAL AND MORAL EDUCATION, LABOUR EDUCATION, CAREERS EDUCATION, PRE-RETIREMENT AND RETIREMENT EDUCATION, AND JOB ORIENTATION COURSES.

THE SPOKESMAN ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 8 800 ADULTS WOULD BENEFIT FROM THESE COURSES, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 4 000 ADULTS OVER THE 1981-82 SCHOOL YEAR.

18