XN000022-1988-06-08 — Page 24

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1988

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COST OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL GRADUATE TEACHER

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THE TOTAL COST OF PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL GRADUATE TEACHER OF CHINESE IN EVERY PUBLIC SECTOR SECONDARY SCHOOL WITH 18 CLASSES OR

FOR MORE FOR THE 1988-89 FINANCIAL YEAR THAT IS

THE SEVEN MONTHS FROM SEPTEMBER 1988 TO MARCH 1989 IS ESTIMATED TO BE $35.8 MILLION INCLUDING ON-COSTS.

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THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON RITA FAN.

MR BRIDGE SAID THE COST FOR THE FULL YEAR 1989-90 AND THEREAFTER WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $61.4 MILLION PER ANNUM (EXCLUDING INFLATION AND CHANGES IN DEMAND).

HOSTELS FOR STREET SLEEPERS UNDER STUDY * * * * *

THE CO-ORDINATING

COMMITTEE ON STREET SLEEPERS, WHICH WAS FORMED LAST YEAR, HAS RECOMMENDED THAT CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF STREET SLEEPERS SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH SOME FORM OF PERMANENT ON HONG KONG ISLAND OR IN KOWLOON.

ACCOMMODATION

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT.

MR CHAMBERS SAID THESE CATEGORIES WOULD PROBABLY INCLUDE THOSE STREET SLEEPERS WHO WERE NOT SUFFICIENTLY OLD OR INFIRM TO BE REHOUSED INTO PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS, BUT WHO HAD AN OBVIOUS HOUSING NEED.

THEY WOULD PROBABLY ALSO INCLUDE THOSE ABLE-BODIED STREET SLEEPERS WHO COULD DEMONSTRATE A VALID REASON FOR NEEDING TO LIVE IN HONG KONG OR KOWLOON.

"WE BELIEVE THAT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION HAS MERIT AND WE ARE NOW EXAMINING, IN CONJUCTION WITH THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, THE POSSIBILITY OF PROVIDING URBAN AREA HOSTELS, HE SAID.

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MR CHAMBERS POINTED OUT THAT THESE HOSTELS WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM EXISTING HOSTELS IN THE RESPECT THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE LONG-TERM ACCOMMODATION AND WOULD BE OPEN ON A 24-HOUR BASIS.

THE SOCIAL

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