XN000022-1987-04-01 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1987

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HE ADDED THAT THE ADVICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THESE QUESTIONS WOULD BE SOUGHT.

TURNING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT THE 82 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE RECURRENT PROVISION WAS DUE TO TWO MAIN FACTORS.

THE FIRST ONE, HE SAID, WAS THE RE-ORGANISATION OF POLLUTION CONTROL RESPONSIBILITIES AND THEIR CENTRAL ISATION IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT; AND THE SECOND INITIATION OF NEW MEASURES IN THE MAIN FIELDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AIR, WATER, AND WASTE DISPOSAL.

HE SAID THAT IN THE PAST, TOO FEW RESOURCES HAD BEEN DEVOTED TO THE PROTECTION OF HONG KONG'S ENVIRONMENT, BUT DURING THE COMING YEAR. +WE SHALL BE TAKING ACTION ON TWO PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT PROBLEMS. NOISE AND THE DISPOSAL OF AGRICULTURAL WASTE.?

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EDUCATION COMMISSION SET ON PROPER COURSE

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THE PROPER COURSE FOR THE EDUCATION COMMISSION TO FOLLOW IS TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE ADVISORY REPORTS TO BE DEBATED FREELY AND OPENLY BY THE PUBLIC AND IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1987, MR BRIDGE ANSWERED SUGGESTIONS THAT THE EDUCATION COMMISSION SHOULD BE RESTRUCTURED AS THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT CO-ORDINATION BY THE COMMISSION OF THE VARIOUS ADVISORY BODIES INVOLVED IN EDUCATION.

+THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE COMMISSION HAS FOUND DIFFICULTY IN CO-ORDINATING THE WORK OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE AND THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL,+ HE SAID.

+IT IS HARD, UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, TO SEE WHAT THE GRANTING OF ADDITIONAL EXECUTIVE POWER TO THE COMMISSION WOULD ACHIEVE.+

ON THE OTHER HAND, MR BRIDGE AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE TO CO-ORDINATE EDUCATION FINANCING IN A MORE RIGOROUS MANNER.

/+PROGRESS HAS