XN000022-1987-02-18 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987

CHANGES INCLUDE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC OFFICERS FROM THREE TO TWO WHILE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL PRINCIPALS FROM THREE TO FIVE.

APPOINTMENT OF A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PREFESSIONS AND OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IS ALSO PROVIDED.

ON EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSHIP OF THE AUTHORITY, MR BRIDGE SAID THE BILL SOUGHT AN EXTENSION TO THE HEADS OF ALL TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS FUNDED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, INCLUDING IN DUE COURSE THE THIRD UNIVERSITY.

ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE AUTHORITY'S OPERATING PROCEDURES, HE SAID THE AUTHORITY WOULD NO LONGER BE REQRIRED TO SEEK APPROVAL FOR EACH AND EVERY NEW EXAMINATION -- OTHER THAN THE MAJOR PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS -- IT PROPOSES TO CONDUCT, INSTEAD, IT MIGHT APPLY FOR APPROVAL OF BROAD CATEGORIES OF EXAMINATION.

+NOR WILL THE AUTHORITY NEED TO SEEK PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE FEES WHICH IT PROPOSES TO CHARGE FOR SUCH EXAMINATIONS OR IT PROPOSES TO PAY TO SCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS FOR THE USE OF THEIR ACCOMMODATION AND FACILITIES,+ MR BRIDGE SAID.

THE BILL, HE ADDED, WOULD ALSO EMPOWER THE AUTHORITY TO DELEGATE TO ITS PRINCIPAL SUB-COMMITTEES APPOINTMENTS TO THE 68 SUBJECT AND MORE THAN 200 MODERATION COMMITTEES, AND TO UNDERTAKE PRUDENT INVESTMENT OF ITS SURPLUS FUNDS.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

ABOLITION OF RATES RELIEF SCHEME SUPPORTED

*****

A FULL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN-HOUSE MEETING HAD DECIDED THAT THE RATES RELIEF SCHEME SHOULD BE ABOLISHED AS PROPOSED BY THE RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987, THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN DEBATE ON THE BILL RESUMED.

DESCRIBING DELIBERATIONS BY THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP TASKED TO STUDY THE BILL AS +NOT AT ALL SMOOTH SAILING+ MR CHAN, THE CONVENER OF THE GROUP, SAID MEMBERS AT FIRST OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED SUSPENSION INSTEAD OF ABOLITION OF THE SCHEME.

/KE SAID

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