XN000022-1984-10-25 — Page 7

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1984

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IN VIEW OF THESE DIFFICULTIES, MISS TAM CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE THE +SPENT CONVICTION SCHEME+, WHICH SHE DESCRIBED AS +A LESS EXPENSIVE BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT MEASURE IN THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS.+

+THE IDEA BEHIND THE SCHEME IS THAT, WHERE A PERSON WHO HAS COMMITTED AN OFFENCE HAS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BEEN LAW-ABIDING, HIS PREVIOUS CONVICTION WILL BE CONSIDERED SPENT, SHE EXPLAINED.

REFERRING TO THE USAGE AND STATUS OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE IN THE FUTURE, MISS TAM SAID IT WAS VITAL THAT HONG KONG CONTINUE TO USE BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGES.

+AS LONG AS BOTH LANGUAGES REMAIN OFFICIAL LANGUAGES IN HONG KONG WE SHALL CONTINUE TO ENJOY A MIX OF CULTURE AND MAINTAIN A POOL OF EXPATRIATE TALENT IN BOTH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR, AND KEEP THIS PLACE A COSMOPOLITAN CITY.

+HENCE, I BELIEVE THAT IN HONG KONG OUR STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE OF RECEIVING THEIR EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS FROM EITHER THE CHINESE OR ENGLISH STREAM.

+THIS WILL FOSTER THE TALENT TO SUSTAIN OUR STRENGTH TO FUNCTION AND MAINTAIN OUR STATUS AS AN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF FINANCE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, SHE SAID.

DR IP OFFERS +VALUE-FOR-MONEY TIPS+

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TIPS ON HOW TO GET BETTER +VALUE-FOR-MONEY+ FROM HONG KONG'S CIVIL SERVICE WERE SUGGESTED BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

DR IP SAID FRINGE BENEFITS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS WERE INFLEXIEL AND UNEQUALLY DISTRIBUTED.

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD FIND IT WORTHWHILE TO HAVE A RETHINK ON FRINGE BENEFITS WHICH WERE COSTLY, AND DID NOT BENEFIT MANY.

+WHY DON'T WE OFFER DIRECT BENEFITS TO THEM IN MONEY TERMS, IN WHICH THEY HAVE AN OPTION TO CHOOSE HOW THEY WOULD LIKE BEST TO SPEND THE IR MONEY?+ SHE ASKED.

WITHOUT ANY INCREASE IN MONETARY TERMS, MONEY SPENT ON FRINGE BENEFITS COULD THEN BE DISTRIBUTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT ALL INCOME GROUPS COULD HAVE THE IR FAIR SHARE.

/+ZP THIS