XN000022-1988-01-27 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1988

Fr

SUBJECT TO THE GRANT BEING OBTAINED, HKCS SHOULD BE ABLE START OPERATING THE CENTRE, WHICH WILL BE IN ITS EXISTING PREMISES TSIM SHA TSUI, IN MARCH THIS YEAR, MR JEAFFRESON SAID,

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TO IN

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE OBJECT IN ESTABLISHING THE CENTRE WAS TO PROVIDE A FOCAL POINT WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAD ABUSED OR WHO WERE AT RISK OF ABUSING PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS COULD OBTAIN INFORMATION, COUNSELLING, MEDICAL TREATMENT, REHABILITATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES.

MR JBAFFRESON FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT THE MAIN SERVICES ΤΟ BE PROVIDED BY THE CENTRE WOULD INCLUDE: PROVIDING INFORMATION AND ADVICE ON PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES; PROVIDING INFORMATION ON EXISTING COMMUNITY SERVICES; COUNSELLING AND EARLY MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT; REFERRALS TO OTHER ORGANISATIONS INCLUDING REFERRALS FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT WHERE APPROPRIATE; AND PROVIDING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AN ALTERNATIVE TO PEER PRESSURE TO TAKE DRUGS.

"THE PILOT PROJECT WILL LAST FOR THREE YEARS AND WILL BE EVALUATED AT 18-MONTH INTERVALS.

"THE NEED FOR MORE SUCH CENTRES WILL BE ASSESSED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS THREE-YEAR PROJECT, HE ADDED.

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BETTER RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR AIDED SECTOR MASTERS * * * *

CERTIFICATED MASTERS AND MISTRESSES WILL RECEIVE MUCH BETTER RETIREMENT BENEFITS UNDER CHANGES MADE IN 1980 TO THE RULES OF THE TWO STATUTORY PROVIDENT FUNDS FOR AIDED SECTOR SCHOOL TEACHERS, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE STATED THIS WHEN EXPLAINING THAT THERE HAD BEEN A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE BENEFITS ENJOYED BY CERTIFICATED MASTERS AND MISTRESSES SINCE 1976, WHEN A SPECIAL COMMISSION MADE ITS REPORT.

THE

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON RITA FAN, MR BRIDGE SAID GOVERNMENT HAD NEVER ACCEPTED THAT FRINGE BENEFITS IN THE AIDED SECTOR SHOULD BE IDENTICAL WITH THOSE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS.

"THE GREAT MAJORITY OF TEACHERS ARE IN THE AIDED SECTOR AND IT DOES NOT SEEM SENSIBLE THAT THEIR BENEFITS SHOULD BE GOVERNED BY THOSE OF THE SMALL MINORITY WHO ARE CIVIL SERVANTS,

MR BRIDGE SAID. "TO DO SO WOULD BE INFLEXIBLE AND EXPENSIVE."

"AT PRESENT, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS AND OUR EXISTING SYSTEM IS FLEXIBLE AND GIVES THE TAXPAYER GOOD VALUE ADDED.

FOR

MONEY,

HE

/MR BRIDGE