XN000022-1988-11-16 — Page 40

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1988

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THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, HE ADDED.

"FOUR OUT OF OUR SIX TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS WILL HAVE REACHED THEIR PLANNED CAPACITY BY 1997 AND THE REMAINING TWO BY THE YEAR 2000.

"WE WILL BE CONSIDERING OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS WHETHER CONTINUING DEMAND WILL REQUIRE US TO ESTABLISH ANOTHER MAJOR INSTITUTION EARLY IN THE NEXT CENTURY," MR BRIDGE SAID.

TURNING TO EDUCATION POLICY MAKING, MR BRIDGE SAID THE MECHANISM THROUGH WHICH EDUCATIONAL POLICIES WERE DEVELOPED MUST BE SOUND IF WE WERE TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMITMENT BOTH TO MORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND TO A HIGHER QUALITY OF EDUCATION WAS MAINTAINED.

"I BELIEVE THAT IT IS."

IN ADDITION TO THE NORMAL MECHANISM OF A POLICY MAKING BRANCH AND POLICY IMPLEMENTING DEPARTMENTS, MR BRIDGE SAID THERE WAS A PARTICULARLY STRONG NETWORK OF ADVISORY BODIES IN THE EDUCATION FIELD, INCLUDING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE EDUCATION COMMISSION.

HE SAID HE BELIEVED THAT THE EDUCATION COMMISSION HAD IMPARTIALLY AND PRAGMATICALLY SURVEYED THE ENTIRE FIELD OF HONG KONG EDUCATION IN ITS FIRST THREE REPORTS.

"I DO NOT AGREE WITH THOSE WHO SUGGEST THAT WE REQUIRE A FURTHER REVIEW.

"I BELIEVE THAT, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE SPENT ENOUGH TIME REVIEWING AND DEBATING.

"IF WE ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO QUALITY THE TIME TO TAKE DECISIONS AND TO ACT ON THEM,

IN EDUCATION, NOW IS

MR BRIDGE SAID.

ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST IMPORTING LABOUR

OF

SKILLED

GOVERNMENT POLICY HAS ALWAYS ALLOWED FOR THE ENTRY WORKERS WHEN IT CAN BE SHOWN THAT THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF SPECIAL SKILLS, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

DISCUSSING THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST WORKERS, MR BRIDGE SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SKILLED AND UNSKILLED LABOUR.

THE

IMPORTATION OF DISTINGUISH BETWEEN

/HE SAID

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