XN000022-1985-06-12 — Page 29

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1985

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HOWEVER, HE SAID, THE INGREDIENTS OF SOME SUCH PESTICIDES WERE INCLUDED IN THE POISONS LIST MADE UNDER THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE AND IN THESE CASES, THE PESTICIDES WERE SUBJECT TO CONTROLS IN RESPECT OF STORAGE, TRANSPORT, SALE, LABELLING AND BOTTLING.

+ IT IS RECOGNISED HOWEVER THAT THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS NOT INTENDED TO CONTROL NON-PHARMACEUTICAL POISONS, IS NOT REALLY APPROPRIATE FOR THE CONTROL OF NON-AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES.

+FOLLOWING RECENT CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IT IS ACCEPTED THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR CONTROLS TO BE INTRODUCED IN THIS AREA AND NEW LEGISLATION WILL BE CONSIDERED,+ HE SAID.

DIFFERENCES HALT NORTH DISTRICT SCHOOL PLAN ******

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRAL PRIMARY SCHOOL IN NORTH DISTRICT WOULD DEPEND ON THE OUTCOME OF FURTHER DISCUSSIONS AMONG THE PARTIES CONCERNED BECAUSE OF A DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS. THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

RESPONDING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN ON THE PROPOSED CENTRALISED PRIMARY SCHOOL IN NORTH DISTRICT, MR LEUNG SAID IT WAS PROPOSED TO COMBINE FIVE SMALL RURAL SCHOOLS IN THE AREA AND USING THE EXISTING PREMISES OF ONE OF THESE SCHOOLS WHICH WAS CENTRALLY LOCATED AND COULD BE SUITABLY RENOVATED FOR THE PURPOSE.

+ BECAUSE OF THE VERY SMALL SIZE OF THE TOTAL ENROLMENT IN THESE FIVE SCHOOLS, A NEW SCHOOL PROJECT IS NOT CONSIDERED JUSTIFIED, HE SAID.

IN LINE WITH PREVIOUS PRACTICE, CONSULTATION WITH THE SCHOOL MANAGERS INVOLVED BEGAN IN FEBRUARY TO SECURE THEIR FULL CONSENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE SCHEME BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION.

MR LEUNG SAID THAT BECAUSE OF UNFAVOURABLE REACTION FROM SCHOOL MAN AGERS TO BEING RECONSTITUTED INTO A NEW MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. IT WAS FELT THAT WIDER CONSULTATION INVOLVING PARENTS WOULD BE NECESSARY TO ENABLE THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF THE CENTRAL SCHOOL.

#

HE EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN RURAL AREAS BY COMBINING A NUMBER OF SMALL SCHOOLS IN THE NEIGHBOURING AREAS TO FORM CENTRAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS, SUBJECT TO THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE SCHEME BY THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED.

ONE SUCH SCHOOL WAS SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED AT HO CHUNG IN SAI KUNG IN 1984, HE SAID.

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