XN000022-1985-07-10 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1985

HE RECALLED THAT WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES (JOINT LIAISON GROUP) ORDINANCE 1985, WHICH WAS PASSED ON MAY 1, HE HAD STATED THAT SOME FURTHER PROVISION MIGHT LATER HAVE TO BE MADE FOR THE EXPERTS AND SUPPORTING STAFF OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, AS WELL AS FOR THE CHINESE MEMBERS AND SUPPORTING STAFF OF THE LAND COMMISSION.

AGREEMENT HAD LATER BEEN REACHED WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THAT THE WORK OF THE TWO BODIES WOULD BE FACILITATED IF APPROPRIATE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES WERE PROVIDED FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS ON BOTH SIDES.

+THIS IS IN LINE WITH NORMAL INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE WHEN REPRESENTATIVES OF DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTS MEET, + MR THOMAS SAID.

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE BILL WAS TO MAKE SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEETINGS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND THE LAND COMMISSION IN HONG KONG. IT DID THAT BY EXTENDING THE PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES (JOINT LIAISON GROUP) ORDINANCE 1985 TO EXPERTS AND SUPPORTING STAFF ON THE CHINESE SIDE OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND TO THE CHINESE MEMBERS AND SUPPORTING STAFF OF THE LAND COMMISSION, MR THOMAS SAID.

TWO FURTHER PROVISIONS MADE IN THE BILL WERE THE PRIVILEGE OF FREEDOM OF COMMUNICATION, AND A MINOR TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO PARAGRAPH 5(3) OF THE SCHEDULE TO THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE, HE SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

AMPLE NOTICE GIVEN TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS *****

EIGHTEEN MONTHS' NOTICE HAD BEEN GIVEN TO EACH OF THE 17 PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CEASE TO BUY FORM 1 PLACES FROM THEM AS FROM SEPTEMBER 1986, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO THE HON RITA FAN ON HOW MUCH ADVANCE NOTICE WAS GIVEN TO THE 17 SCHOOLS THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE BOUGHT PLACE SCHEME FROM NEXT SEPTEMBER, MR LEUNG SAID THAT THE AMOUNT OF ADVANCE NOTICE WAS THE SUBJECT OF CONSULTATION WITH THE PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS ADVISORY BOARD AS EARLY AS DECEMBER 1732.

ALL AGREED THAT 18 MONTHS WOULD BE SUFFICIENT.

THE 17 PRIVATE SCHOOLS WERE INFORMED IN MARCH THIS YEAR AND THE MATTER WAS ALSO DISCUSSED AT A MEETING OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS ADVISORY BOARD THE SAME MONTH.

/IN REPLY