XN000022-1985-03-27 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985

+THE COURSE WILL ALSO HELP TO TRAIN SENIOR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS FOR LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT ROLES IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS, HE SAID.

DR HO POINTED OUT THAT THE COST FOR THE PROGRAMME IS QUITE MODEST. + IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION, THREE INSTRUCTORS AND ONE SUPPORT STAFF ARE REQUIRED AT THE COST OF $1.7 MILLION. AS THE COURSE GROWS TO MATURITY IN ITS THIRD YEAR, AN ESTABLISHMENT OF SIX INSTRUCTORS AND A SMALL SUPPORT STAFF IS NEEDED AT A COST OF $3.5 MILLION,+

THE PROPOSED COURSE, HE SAID, MIGHT UPSET THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN GRADUATE TEACHERS AND NON-GRADUATE TEACHERS.

+HOWEVER, FROM THE EDUCATIONAL POINT OF VIEW, THE MERITS OF THE COURSE FAR OUTWEIGH ANY ADMINISTRATIVE INCONVENIENCE,+ HE SAID.

+HONG KONG HAS NO MAJOR NATURAL RESOURCES EXCEPT FOR ITS PEOPLE AND A MAGNIFICENT HARBOUR,

+WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR HUMAN RESOURCES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN OUR POSITION AS A MAJOR INDUSTRIAL, FINANCIAL AND TRADING CENTRE, HE SAID.

UPDATE BUDGET GUIDELINES

*****

STEPHEN CHEONG

IT WAS SUGGESTED TODAY BY THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG THAT THE TIME MIGHT HAVE COME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW AND, IF NECESSARY, UPDATE THE BUDGETARY GUIDELINES STATED IN THE BUDGET SPEECH.

SPEAKING AT THE BUDGET DEBATE, MR CHEONG SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE GUIDELINES RATIONALISED DE NOVO AND PROJECTED FORWARD AS MEDIUM-TERM OBJECTIVES WHICH COULD BE PURSUED WITH A DEGREE OF CONTINUITY BY WHOEVER MIGHT BE STEERING THE COURSE OF OUR BUDGETARY POLICIES.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COULD THEN BE CONFIDENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT ONLY BE WORKING TOWARDS ACHIEVING A BALANCED BUDGET IN 1986-87 BUT WOULD ALSO STAY ON THE COURSE IN THE YEARS TO COME, WITHOUT HAVING TO INCREASE TAXES YEAR AFTER YEAR, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, HE SAID.

HE HAD EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SUCCEED IN HOLDING DOWN PUBLIC EXPENDITURE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

/+HOWEVER, I