XN000022-1986-07-09 — Page 62

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1986

THE THIRD CENTRALISED PRIMARY SCHOOL, HE SAID, WOULD BE BUILT AT SHA TAU KOK TO REPROVISION THE EXISTING FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION'S SCHOOL, WHICH WOULD BE CLOSED DUE TO A REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME THERE, AND TO REPLACE FOUR OTHER SMALL RURAL SCHOOLS IN THE VICINITY.

HE ALSO ADDED THAT THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD HAD GIVEN SUPPORT TO THE PROJECT WHICH WOULD BE COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE 1988-89 SCHOOL YEAR.

AS REGARDS A CENTRALISED PRIMARY SCHOOL ON LANTAU, HE SAID THAT DUE TO THE LACK OF SUPPORT FROM HEADMASTERS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS CONCERNED, THIS PROJECT WOULD BE SHELVED FOR THE TIME BE ING.

MR LEUNG SAID THE INTENTION WAS TO AMALGAMATE FIVE SMALL RURAL SCHOOLS IN SOUTH LANTAU. THE PREMISES OF ONE OF THE EXISTING SCHOOLS WOULD BE USED FOR THE NEW SCHOOL AS DEMAND FOR SCHOOL PLACES IN THAT PART OF THE ISLAND DID NOT WARRANT THE BUILDING OF A NEW 12 CLASSROOM SCHOOL.

+ IT WAS HOPED THAT THE PROPOSED AMALGAMATION WOULD BRING ABOUT MORE EFFECTIVE TEACHING BY DOING AWAY WITH COMBINED CLASSES, + HE EXPLAINED.

SUICIDE CASES: OUTLINE OF POSSIBLE FACTORS

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THE REASON FOR THE INCREASE IN SUICIDE CASES INVOLVING SCHOOL CHILDREN OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS IS NOT KNOWN, ALTHOUGH IT IS SUSPECTED THAT THE INFLUENCE OF SUICIDES AMONG PEERS AND REPORTING OF CASES LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS MIGHT BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO DR THE HON CONRAD LAM, MR LEUNG SAID THE TOTAL NUMBERS OF CASES, KNOWN TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, OF SUICIDE OR ATTEMPTED SUICIDE INVOLVING SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE TEN IN 1983-84, 34 IN 1984-85 AND 56 IN 1985-86.

THERE WERE TWO DEATHS IN 1983-84, ONE IN 1984-85, AND FIVE IN 1985-86.

IN ADDITION, MR LEUNG SAID, THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT KNEW OF TWO FATAL CASES, BOTH DURING THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR, INVOLVING STUDENTS ATTENDING TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.

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