XN000022-1983-11-03 — Page 6

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UN

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1983

SCHOOLS' FREEDOM OF IDEALS STRESSED

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THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN THE RUNNING OF SCHOOL S WAS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND TO REGULATE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT THE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND CURRICULUM OF THE SCHOOLS.

+THEY THEMSELVES HAVE ABSOLUTE FREEDOM TO INSTIL TRADITIONAL IDEALS OF SERVICE AND MORALITY IN THEIR STUDENTS, SHE SAID.

SPEAKING AT THE JOINT COLLEGES SPEECH DAY OF THE HONG KONG BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION, MRS WONG SAID UNDER THE LIBERAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG, ANY WELL-ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY ORGANISATION, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR RELIGIOUS STAND, AND OTHER BODIES, CAN CONTRIBUTE IN THEIR OWN WAY TO THE EDUCATION OF THE NEXT GENERATION.

+THE GOVERNMENT SPENDS A LARGE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC MONEY EACH YEAR ON EDUCATION, THE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE MORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE, SHE NOTED.

MRS WONG SAID SHE HOPED THE GRADUATING STUDENTS WOULD BE PREPARED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN FUTURE AND CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG.

AUGUST SURVEY OF RETAIL SALES ****

THE VALUE OF RETAIL SALES FOR THE RETAIL TRADE SECTOR IN AUGUST 1983 WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $4 759 MILLION, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL SURVEY RESULTS PREPARED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT,

AT 140, THE OVERALL RETAIL SALES VALUE INDEX FOR THE MONTH ROSE BY 2 POINTS OR 1 PER CENT OVER JULY 1983, AND BY 15 POINTS OR 12 PER CENT OVER AUGUST 1982.

THE OVERALL RETAIL SALES VOLUME INDEX, AT 106, WAS 1 POINT OR 1 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR JULY 1983, AND 3 POINTS OR 3 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR AUGUST 1982.

COMPARED WITH JULY 1983. RETAIL SALES OF OTHER CONSUMER GOODS AND FUELS ROSE BY 7 PER CENT AND 2 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS.

RETAIL SALES OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO REMAINED UNCHANGED IN VALUE TERMS BUT DECLINED BY 1 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS.

/RETAIL SALES