XN000022-1986-07-09 — Page 61

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1986

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NO HARDSHIP IN IMPLEMENTING CENTRAL ISED SCHOOLS SCHEME

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN FULL ACCOUNT OF THE NEEDS OF THE DIFFERENT LOCAL ITIES TO ENSURE THAT NO HARDSHIP WILL BE CREATED FOR PUPILS, PARENTS OR SCHOOL AUTHORITIES WHEN IMPLEMENTING THE CENTRALISED PRIMARY SCHOOLS SCHEME, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MR LEUNG SAID THE AGREEMENT OF THE CONSTITUENT SCHOOL AUTHORITIES WOULD BE SOUGHT AT THE INITIAL STAGE.

AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, THE INCORPORATED BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NEW SCHOOL WOULD BE COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONSTITUENT SCHOOLS TO BE REPLACED.

SECONDLY, IN ORDER TO ASSIST WITH THE TRAVELLING EXPENSES WHICH MIGHT BE INCURRED BY VILLAGE CHILDREN IN ATTENDING A CENTRALISED PRIMARY SCHOOL, THE GOVERNMENT WAS PREPARED TO CONSIDER TRANSPORT SUBSIDIES WHEN NECESSARY.

MR LEUNG SAID THAT ANY MEMBERS OF THE TEACHING STAFF OF THE CONSTITUENT SCHOOLS WHO COULD NOT BE RE-EMPLOYED IN THE NEW CENTRAL ISED SCHOOL WOULD BE GIVEN APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE IN FINDING ALTERNATIVE POSTS ELSEWHERE.

TO ANOTHER QUESTION BY MR CHEUNG, ABOUT PROGRESS MADE IN IMPLEMENTING THE SCHEME, MR LEUNG NOTED THAT FOUR CENTRALISED PRIMARY SCHOOLS HAD BEEN PROPOSED, BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE 1981 WHITE PAPER +PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES+. OF THESE, THE ONE IN HO CHUNG (SAI KUNG) HAD BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE OCTOBER 1984.

THE REMAINING THREE WERE INTENDED TO REPLACE SMALL RURAL SCHOOLS IN HANG HAU (SAI KUNG), SHA TAU KOK AND LANTAU ISLAND.

MR LEUNG SAID A SITE AT MANG KUNG UK VILLAGE, WHICH AT PRESENT ACCOMMODATED THE EXISTING HANG HAU DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOL, WAS CHOSEN FOR THE HANG HAU PROJECT.

+ THE INTENTION IS TO BUILD A NEW 12 CLASSROOM PRIMARY SCHOOL ON THIS SITE TO REPLACE THE EXISTING SCHOOL AND TO ACCOMMODATE THE PUP ILS FROM FIVE OTHER SMALL PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE VICINITY.→

HE SAID HE HOPED THE HANG HAU CENTRALISED PRIMARY SCHOOL WOULD BE COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE 1989-90 SCHOOL YEAR.

THE THIRD