XN000022-1989-06-28 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1989

FIRM FOUNDATION LAID FOR WELFARE OF YOUNG: SEM

HAS

THE GOVERNMENT

DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE SET REGULATIONS TO PREVENT THE ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN YOUNG PEOPLE, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON BRIDGE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE SAID THE BASIC PROVISIONS IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION PROTECTION AGAINST EXPLOITATION LAID A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR WELFARE OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.

OF

AND

RON

AND

THE

SPEAKING IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN IN HONG KONG, MR BRIDGE SAID THAT WITH A FIRM FOUNDATION THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOW BE ABLE TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION.

ON PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION, MR BRIDGE SAID THE ISSUE WAS BEING STUDIED AND CONSULTATION BEING CARRIED OUT.

"ONCE THE MAIN OUTLINES OF A POLICY HAVE BEEN APPROVED, OUR INTENTION IS TO INVOLVE THOSE WORKING IN THE PRE-PRIMARY SECTOR IN A JOINT WORKING GROUP, WHICH WILL MONITOR PROGRESS ON IMPLEMENTING THE IN POLICY, ADVISE US HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED UNIFYING ALL SERVICES FOR PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN AND CONSIDER ANY NEW PROPOSALS WHICH MAY BE MADE, HE SAID.

ON THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION, MR BRIDGE SAID SCHOOLS WOULD BE CONSULTED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS ON MEASURES AIMED AT IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ENGLISH-MEDIUM SECONDARY EDUCATION.

MR BRIDGE POINTED OUT THAT SCHOOLS ALONE COULD NOT BEAR THE WHOLE BURDEN OF DEVELOPING MATURE, RESPONSIBLE ADULTS.

"SOCIETY AS A WHOLE AND PARENTS IN PARTICULAR EXERCISE A STRONG INFLUENCE ON HOW CHILDREN GROW UP.

THE

"OUR SCHOOLS, HOWEVER, ARE NOT SIMPLY KNOWLEDGE FACTORIES. CURRICULUM HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED OVER THE YEARS FROM A NARROWLY ACADEMIC ONE ΤΟ ONE AIMED AT

NOT DEVELOPING CHILDREN INTELLECTUALLY BUT ALSO MORALLY AND AESTHETICALLY, HE SAID.

**

ONLY

MR BRIDGE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT RECENT EVENTS ENSURED THAT CHILDREN IN HONG KONG NOW KNEW SOMETHING AND DEMOCRACY AND THEIR IMPORTANCE FOR THE

FUTURE OF

IN CHINA HAD ABOUT FREEDOM CHINA AND OF

HONG KONG,

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