XN000022-1985-11-13 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1985

+THIS ALSO MEANS, OF COURSE, THAT THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WILL NO LONGER BE BUYING PLACES AND THE PROCESS OF PHASING OUT THE BUYING OF PLACES IN THESE SCHOOLS IS ALREADY IN HAND, TO COMMENCE IN SEPTEMBER 1986, + HE SAID.

MR HENDERSON CITED A 1978 WHITE PAPER ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION AS STATING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT EXTEND THE BOUGHT-PLACE SCHEME TO SENIOR SECONDARY FORMS IN PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AND WOULD TERMINATE THE BUYING OF JUNIOR SECONDARY PLACES IN SCHOOLS OF THIS TYPE WHICH DID NOT HAVE GOOD FACILITIES AND OPERATING STANDARDS.

HOWEVER, MR HENDERSON SAID THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS WAS NOT SIMPLY A QUESTION OF THE NUMBER OF PLACES BOUGHT BY GOVERNMENT.

+THIS MUST OBVIOUSLY BE DETERMINED BY THE ABILITY OF THESE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATION SERVICE OF A NATURE OR OF A QUALITY WHICH PARENTS ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO AFFORD.

+I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A MARKET FOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE BEST OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF SUCH SCHOOLS WITHIN A DIVERSE EDUCATION SYSTEM WILL BE WELCOMED BY GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.

THE PRIVATE NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS, FROM WHICH THE GOVERNMENT ALSO BOUGHT PLACES, WOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE BOUGHT PLACES AS AT PRESENT AND NO CHANGE WAS EXPECTED IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, HE ADDED.

SAFETY MEASURES AT TRAINING CENTRES UNDER REVIEW

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THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY WOULD BE REVIEWING THE SAFETY MEASURES IN TRAINING CENTRES TO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN RELATING TO THE INCIDENT ON NOVEMBER 5 AT THE AUTHORITY'S KWAI CHUNG CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING CENTRE WHERE AN APPRENTICE WAS KILLED BY A FALLING IRON BAR. MR HENDERSON SAID THAT OFFICERS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND STAFF OF THE CENTRE THEMSELVES WERE INVESTIGATING THE CASE.

+ IN THE