XN000022-1987-11-05 — Page 10

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1987

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THEREFORE, SHE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO RETAIN THE NON-MEANS TESTED OLD AGE ALLOWANCE FOR THOSE AGED 70 AND ABOVE.

ON THE LABOUR SHORTAGE QUESTION, MRS NG FELT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER OTHER MEASURES TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM, RATHER THAN LEAVING IT TO ADJUSTMENT BY MARKET FORCES.

"IN MY VIEW, THE PROBLEM CAN BE PARTIALLY SOLVED BY ATTRACTING MORE HOUSEWIVES TO JOIN THE LABOUR FORCE.

"IT IS THEREFORE TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER INTRODUCING SEPARATE TAX ASSESSMENT FOR COUPLES AND SPECIAL TAX ALLOWANCE FOR WORKING WOMEN, SHE SAID.

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MRS NG ALSO COMMENTED THAT THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS FAILED TO INCLUDE SUFFICIENT DETAILS.

SHE RECOMMENDED THAT FUTURE POLICY SPEECHES SHOULD INCLUDE APPENDICES TO PROVIDE BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND RELEVANT STATISTICS.

BILINGUAL TRAINING SHOULD BE CONTINUED

*

THE LANGUAGE ISSUE IS A MAJOR CHALLENGE FACING SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG, THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN SAID

IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE ANNUAL POLICY DEBATE, MR YEUNG SAID THE EDUCATION COMMISSION STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT BILINGUALISM WAS ESSENTIAL IF HONG KONG WAS ΤΟ RETAIN ITS POSITION AS A LEADING INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF FINANCE, TRADE AND INDUSTRY. THEREFORE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM SHOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE BILINGUAL TRAINING IN ORDER TO MEET SOCIAL NEEDS.

HE SAID AS THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT EMBARKED ON BILINGUAL LEGISLATION, HONG KONG WOULD INEVITABLY EVOLVE INTO A SOCIETY WITH A BILINGUAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

THERE WOULD ALSO BE A DEFINITE TREND FOR THE COURTS ΤΟ USE CHINESE MORE WIDELY. HOWEVER, HONG KONG WAS SHORT OF LEGAL PROFESSIONALS WHO WERE PROFICIENT IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE.

"IN THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO DEVELOP THE LANGUAGE ABILITY OF OUR YOUNGER GENERATION, SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A GOOD COMMAND OF BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE," HE ADDED.

/MR YEUNG

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