XN000022-1986-05-06 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1986

OTHER ITEMS TO BE CONSIDERED AT TOMORROW'S MEETING ARE:

* REDUNDANCY PAYMENT SCHEMES FOR LOCALLY ENGAGED STAFF OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON AFFECTED BY THE CLOSURE OF THE STUDENTS CENTRE AND THE EDINBURGH AND MANCHESTER SUB-OFFICES;

* NON-RECURRENT GRANTS FOR THE BAPTIST COLLEGE

BUILDING PROGRAMMES;

* PURCHASE OF TWO EMERGENCY TENDERS TO REPLACE TWO EXISTING FIRE SERVICES APPLIANCES; AND

* PURCHASE OF A RADIO OUTSIDE BROADCAST VEHICLE

BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG.

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

STUDENT TRAVEL SUBSIDY SCHEME REVISED ****

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO REVISE THE EXISTING SCHEME ON STUDENT TRAVEL SUBSIDY. WITH EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 1 1986, GOVERNMENT WILL CEASE SUBSIDISING STUDENT TRAVEL ON SUNDAYS. DURING THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS AND THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THIS DECISION WAS BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION OF THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP TO ABOLISH SUBSIDISING RECREATIONAL TRAVEL BY STUDENTS.

ON THE BACKGROUND OF THE REVIEW, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE WORKING GROUP WAS FORMED IN JULY 1985 UNDER THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT IN RESPONSE TO CONCERN EXPRESSED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHO HAD IN THE PAST RAISED QUERIES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. CONCERNING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCHEME.

THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT, IN HIS ANNUAL REPORT, ALSO CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR FAILING TO DEFINE CLEARLY THE POLICY OBJECTIVES AND TO FULLY RECONSIDER OPTIONS TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES BEFORE LAUNCHING THE SCHEME.

/IN ITS