XN000022-1987-03-25 — Page 25

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1987

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BAPTIST COLLEGE MAKES POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS

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THE HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE, RAVING NEW FIRMLY ESTABLISHED ITSELF AFTER SETTING UP FOR 30 YEARS, WOULD CONTINUE IN THE YEARS AHEAD TO MATURE AS A DISTINGUISHED ACADEMIC COMMUNITY SERVING THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION, THE HON WONG PO-YAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

TABLING ITS ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1985-86 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN HIS CAPACITY AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COLLEGE'S BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND COUNCIL, MR WONG SAID MANY POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE COLLEGE HAD BEEN MADE DURING THE YEAR.

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, THE COLLEGE HAD GAINED APPROVAL TO OFFER TWO BACHELOR DEGREE COURSES IN COMBINED SCIENCES AND SOCIAL WORK, AFTER THESE COURSES WERE GIVEN HIGH MARKS BY ACADEMIC VALIDATION TEAMS FROM THE UK COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL ACADEMIC AWARDS, HE NOTED.

IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A NINE PER CENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SENIOR ACADEMIC STAFF WHILE THE TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION WAS HELD AT ZERO GROWTH, HE SAID.

INCREASED FUNDING HAD BEEN ALLOCATED TO STAFF RESEARCH, WHICH HAD NOT ONLY INCREASED IN QUANTITY BUT ALSO EXPANDED IN SCOPE AND IMPROVED IN QUALITY, HE NOTED.

THE COLLEGE'S LIBRARY HAD BEEN COMPUTERISED WITH A FULLY- INTEGRATED AUTOMATION SYSTEM, AND ITS COLLECTION HAD EXPANDED BY 12 PER CENT TO REACH A NEW HIGH OF 150 000 VOLUMES, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE CAMPUS REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME PROCEEDED ON SCHEDULE AND A TEMPORARY SITE AT RENFREW ROAD NEAR THE CAMPUS HAD BEEN ACQUIRED AS DECANTING SPACE FOR THE STAFF AND STUDENTS WHEN CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE CAMPUS WAS IN PROGRESS.

LASTLY, WHILE APPRECIATING THE SUPPORT FROM PUBLIC FUNDS MR WONG ALSO THANKED THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR ITS CONTINUING SUPPORT TO THE COLLEGE.

FILM CLASSIFICATION BILL UNDER WAY

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THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S AGREEMENT WOULD BE SOUGHT TO PUBLISH A DRAFT BILL TO IMPLEMENT A THREE-CATEGORY FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM ON APRIL 3. THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID FORD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON SELINA CHOW, MR FORD SAID THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS' RECOMMENDATION REACHED AT LAST FRIDAY'S IN-HOUSE MEETING TO ADOPT A LEGISLATIVE APPROACH IN IMPLEMENTING THE NEW FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, AND DISCUSSIONS OF A DRAFT BILL WERE UNDER WAY WITH AN AD HOC GROUP UNDER THE CONVENORSHIP OF THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN.

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