XN000022-1984-03-29 — Page 23

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984

HAVING BEEN IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION FOR 15 YEARS, MRS NG SAID THAT SHE COULD FULLY APPRECIATE THE MEANING OF THE CONCLUSION IN THE GUIDELINES WHICH OUTLINED THE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

SHE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PROMPTLY PROVIDE EVERY GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOL WITH THE PROMISED TWO ADDITIONAL NON-GRADUATE TEACHERS TO HELP ORGANISE EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOP SUCH SCHEMES AS THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB, SO THAT PUPILS MIGHT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, THEREBY ACHIEVING THE AIMS OF MORAL TRAINING.

MRS NG ALSO SPOKE ON THE PROVISION OF STREET LIGHTING IN SQUATTER AREAS.

+STREET LIGHTING IS MOST IMPORTANT IN THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER IN SQUATTER AREAS. PROVISION OF SUCH LIGHTING TO SQUATTERS IS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL, SHE SAID.

HOWEVER, NEITHER THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT NOR THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAD FUNDS SPECIFIED FOR INSTALLING STREET LIGHTS IN SQUATTER AREAS, SHE SAID.

+I SUGGEST, THEREFORE, THAT PROVISIONS UNDER HEAD 43 ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SUBHEAD 242 LIGHTING OF STREETS AND TRAFFIC SIGNALS SHOULD INCLUDE STREET LIGHTING IN SQUATTER AREAS LIKE PROVISIONS FOR LIGHTING IN OTHER STREETS AND PUBLIC PLACES, MRS NG SAID.

TURNING TO THE PROVISION OF EVENING CLINICS, MRS NG POINTED OUT THAT THE TOTAL ATTENDANCE FIGURES AT GOVERNMENT OUT-PATIENT CLINICS CAME TO 15.1 MILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 4.9 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

+THESE FIGURES SHOW THAT THERE IS A PRESSING DEMAND FOR OUT-PATIENT CLINIC SERVICES, ESPECIALLY, SHE SAID.

SHE NOTED THAT EVENING CLINICS WERE OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE TO FACTORY WORKERS WHO COULD ONLY SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT AFTER WORK LEST THEY SHOULD LOSE A DAY'S WAGES AND THE WORK BONUS.

+THEREFORE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXPAND EVENING OUT-PATIENT SERVICES IN THE INTERESTS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

+THIS WILL ALSO HAVE THE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT OF MAXIMISING THE USE OF EXISTING FACILITIES AT GOVERNMENT CLINICS, SHE ADDED,

MRS NG SAID SHE SUPPORTED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S PROPOSAL TO LEVY THE NEW TAX ON THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT REASONS.

SHE REMINDED THE GOVERNMENT OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF MANY PRIVATE CAR OWNERS TURNING TO VEHICULAR FERRY OR OTHER MEANS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO CROSS THE HARBOUR.

SHE URGED