XN000022-1988-06-01 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1988

THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE SCHEME SHOULD INCLUDE RECREATIONAL TRIPS WAS FULLY CONSIDERED IN THAT REVIEW.

THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH AND THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WERE ALSO CONSULTED, HE SAID.

PANEL

FOLLOWING THIS CONSULTATION, THE OMELCO EDUCATION CONSIDERED THE ISSUE ON DECEMBER 20, 1985, AND AGREED THAT CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO EXCLUDING RECREATIONAL TRIPS FROM THE SUBSIDY.

"HAVING TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE ADVICE OF THE EDUCATION PANEL, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECIDED THAT, WITH EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 1,

1986, RECREATIONAL TRIPS SHOULD CEASE TO BE SUBSIDISED, MR BRIDGE SAID.

-

"THE SUBSIDY WAS ACCORDINGLY WITHDRAWN FROM JOURNEYS MADE ON

SUNDAYS AND IN THE MAJOR SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

C

DURING THE MOST RECENT REVIEW OF THE SCHEME, THE OMELCO EDUCATION PANEL, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SIX SECONDARY SCHOOL COUNCILS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF STUDENTS WERE CONSULTED, MR BRIDGE SAID.

THESE BODIES WERE FELT TO BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE BODIES TO CONSULT SINCE THE PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW WAS TO RELATE THE SCHEME MORE CLOSELY TO STRICTLY EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.

MR BRIDGE STRESSED THE DECISION NOT TO SUBSIDISE RECREATIONAL TRAVEL HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN IN 1986.

REVIEW OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS NEARING COMPLETION

THE REVIEW OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS, A TASK OF SOME MAGNITUDE, IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HELMUT SOHMEN, SIR DAVID SAID IT HAD BEEN NECESSARY TO EXAMINE OVER 200 APPEAL PROVISIONS IN MORE THAN 90 SEPARATE ORDINANCES.

"WE HAVE ALSO HAD ΤΟ ANALYSE, IN CONSULTATION WITH MANY DIFFERENT BRANCHES AND DEPARTMENTS, THE DIVERSE EXPERIENCE OF APPEALS MADE UNDER THESE PROVISIONS, HE SAID.

WHETHER THE

"IN BACH CASE, THE REVIEW HAS SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES ARE ADEQUATE AND, IF NOT, WHETHER THERE ARE GROUNDS FOR CHANGE.

/"IT HAS