XN000022-1989-06-28 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1989

HE NOTED THAT A RECENT ARTICLE IN AN AMERICAN MAGAZINE REPORTED THAT A RISE IN BRUTAL CRIMES BY THE YOUNG IN THE UNITED STATES HAD SHAKEN THE SOUL OF AMERICAN SOCIETY.

"IF WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE UNITED STATES IS ANY INDICATION OR REFLECTION, WE MAY SOON FIND OURSELVES IN THE SAME BOAT, HE SAID.

MR CHEUNG SAID THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN HONG KONG WAS RIGID, WITH UNDULY HEAVY EMPHASIS OF EXAMINATION RESULTS IN AN ACADEMIC CURRICULUM IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.

HE AGREED THAT ENGLISH WAS IMPORTANT TO A COMMUNITY HONG KONG,

SUC-I AS

"BUT THE HARD FACT OF LIFE IS THAT ONLY ABOUT 25 PER CENT OF OUR CHILDREN CAN MANAGE AN EDUCATION IN ENGLISH AND NOT EVERYONE IS ACADEMICALLY INCLINED, HE SAID.

MR CHEUNG SAID THAT NOT MUCH PROVISION HAD BEEN MADE FOR THOSE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE LESS ACADEMIC, NOT QUITE ABLE ΤΟ MASTER AND BE FLUENT IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND WHO DID NOT AND COULD NOT SCORE WELL IN EXAMINATIONS.

WITH NO PROVISIONS FOR ADVANCEMENT AND RECOGNITION OF SUCCESS IN NON-ACADEMIC AND MORE PRACTICAL SUBJECTS, MANY CHILDREN UNDER PARENTAL PRESSURE WERE "HITTING THEIR HEADS AGAINST THE WALL" BY VOWING TO GO FOR AN ACADEMIC EDUCATION IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEADING TO SUCCESS IN THE PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS REGARDLESS OF THE PRICE THEY HAD TO PAY.

"HAVE WE EVER GIVEN SOBER AND SERIOUS THOUGHTS ΤΟ THE PLIGHT OF THESE CHILDREN?" HE SAID.

"IN THIS INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF CHILD, LET US ALERT OURSELVES AND TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO PROVIDE A CLEANER, HEALTHIER, HAPPIER AND WARMER PLACE FOR OUR CHILDREN. LET US SHOW OUR YOUNGSTERS BY OUR ACTIONS THAT WE DO CARE ABOUT THEM, HE SAID.

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GROWING DEMAND FOR DAY NURSERY CARE

*

WITH MORE AND MORE WOMEN BEING DRAWN INTO THE LABOUR FORCE, THE IMPACT OF MATERNAL EMPLOYMENT UPON CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO THEIR CARE AND CONTROL, BECOMES INCREASINGLY MORE IMPORTANT, THE HON MIRIAM LAU SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SHE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD TRIED TO ASSIST WORKING PARENTS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN BUT THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT THE DEMAND FOR CHILD CARE SERVICES WAS NOT BEING MET.

/SPEAKING IN