XN000022-1985-07-09 — Page 16

TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1985

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$5M EXTRA GRANT SOUGHT FOR SCHOOL

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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE ASKED TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO APPROVE AN EXTRA GRANT OF $5.29 MILLION TO ENABLE A RELIGIOUS BODY TO BUILD AND EQUIP A PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOL IN KWAI CHUNG.

THE PROPOSAL, IF APPROVED, WILL RAISE TO $20 658 000 GOVERNMENT'S TOTAL COMMITMENT TO ENABLE THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN CHINA TO BUILD THE SCHOOL.

IN 1981, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED A CAPITAL GRANT OF $15 363 000 TOWARDS THE PROJECT.

LATEST ESTIMATES SHOW THAT THE BUILDING COST HAS GONE UP, AND THAT $3.75 MILLION WILL BE NEEDED FOR EXTRA UNDERGROUND SLAB WORKS BECAUSE OF DIFFICULT SITE CONDITIONS,

OTHER INCREASES ARE DUE TO RISING COSTS AND IMPROVED STANDARD PROVISION OF FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT.

THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN CHINA HAS CONFIRMED THAT IT IS UNABLE TO INCREASE ITS ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION OF $1 707 000 TOWARDS THE PROJECT.

IN VIEW OF THE COUNCIL'S HEAVY COMMITMENT IN TWO OTHER PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOL PROJECTS IN TAI PO AND TUEN MUN, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE ASKED TO APPROVE THE INCREASED COMMITMENT OF $5 295 000 IN THE FORM OF A CAPITAL GRANT.

OTHER ITEMS ON TOMORROW'S AGENDA ARE:

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SUPPLEMENTARY GRANTS TO ENABLE THE UNIVERSITIES, POLYTECHNICS, AND THE BAPTIST COLLEGE TO AWARD PAY INCREASES TO THE IR STAFF FOLLOWING THE CIVIL SERVICE PAY RISE IN APRIL;

* SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS FOR ENGLISH SCHOOLS

FOUNDATION SCHOOLS :

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A PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE LIMIT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES FROM $500 TO $600 PER QUARTER, AND TO DELEGATE THE AUTHORITY FOR FUTURE REVISIONS TO THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND

A PROPOSAL TO EXCLUDE LOSSES UNDER $500 ARISING FROM THEFT OR SUSPECTED THEFT FROM THE REQUIREMENT THAT THEY BE TREATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITE-OFF AS LOSSES INVOLVING FRAUD OR NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF A PUBLIC OFFICER.

THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO APPROVE VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE.

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