XN000022-1985-03-28 — Page 4

THURLAY, MARCH 28, 1985

ANOTHER SCHEME WHICH NEEDED REVIEW WAS THE JOINT FUNDING SCHEME, WHICH WAS INITIATED BY THE GOVERNOR TWO YEARS AGO AND JOINTLY FUNDED BY HONG KONG AND BRITAIN TO ASSIST CHILDREN OF NEEDY FAMILIES TO STUDY IN BRITAIN, MR CHEUNG SAID.

HE OBSERVED IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT MORE STUDENTS WENT OVERSEAS FOR STUDIES IN 1984 THAN EVER BEFORE, THE NUMBER RECEIVING SUBSIDIES FROM THIS FUND SEEMED TO HAVE ACTUALLY DROPPED.

IT IS A SITUATION THAT NEEDS INVESTIGATION TO SEE THAT GOVERNMENT FUNDS ARE USED IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.

+ IT MAY BE THAT THE AMOUNT OFFERED TO EACH IS NOT ENOUGH TO ALLOW A STUDENT STUDY IN BRITAIN.

+ IT MAY BE THAT THE PARENTS ARE UNABLE TO GET FIRM ASSURANCES TO HELP IN TIME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS.

+ IT MAY BE THAT THE MAN-IN-THE-STREET THINKS THAT HE HAS LITTLE HOPE OF A SUBSIDY AND SO DOES NOT APPLY,

IT MIGHT EVEN BE THAT HONG KONG PARENTS ARE SO WELL OFF THAT THEY DO NOT NEED A SUBSIDY, HE SAID.

ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR CHEUNG SAID NOW THAT THE 1997 ISSUE HAD BEEN HAPPILY RESOLVED, PLANS SHOULD BE PUT IN HAND FOR THOSE AREAS CLOSED FOR DEFENCE PURPOSES TO BE SCHEDULED FOR DEVELOPMENT.

+THE SO-CALLED 'CLOSED-AREA' AT THE BORDER NO LONGER SERVED ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE.

+THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE, WHO HAVE SO LONG BOWED TO THE OVERRIDING NEEDS OF FRONTIER DEFENCE, SHOULD NOW BE ABLE TO SHARE IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY OF OTHER PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES,+ HE SAID.

HE AGREED THAT IT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED A CONVENIENCE TO KEEP THE AREA CLOSED BUT, IN VIEW OF THE NEEDS AND RIGHTS OF THOSE WHO LIVED THERE, NO PART SHOULD ANY LONGER BE CUT OFF EXCEPT WHERE IT WAS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

+SO MUCH, INDEED, HAS THE AREA STAGNATED THAT, IT IS SAID, THE PEOPLE ON THE CHINESE SIDE AT SHATAUKOK, IN THEIR GLEAMING NEW HOUSES, LIKE TO TAKE VISITORS FROM ALL PARTS OF KWANGTUNG TO THE BORDER AND POINT ACROSS TO THE HONG KONG SIDE AT A WAY OF LIFE THAT HAS NOT CHANGED IN 50 YEARS, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR OUR IMAGE FOR THE SHATAUKOK AREA TO BE REGARDED AS A FOLK MUSEUM.

/ON THE