XN000022-1990-03-21 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1990

MR YEUNG SAID ANOTHER PROBLEM IN CONNECTION ORDERS WAS THE DIFFICULTY WHICH SOMETIMES AROSE IN WILLING TO ACCEPT A TRUANT OR PROBLEM CHILD.

WITH ATTENDANCE FINDING A SCHOOL

CLAUSE 6(2) PROPOSED TO GIVE THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION THE POWER TO REQUIRE A SCHOOL TO ADMIT A CHILD NAMED IN AN ATTENDANCE ORDER, AND TO PROHIBIT THE EXPULSION OF THAT CHILD WITHOUT THE DIRECTOR'S WRITTEN PERMISSION.

"I CAN WELL UNDERSTAND THE RELUCTANCE ON THE PART OF CERTAIN SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO ACCEPTING TRUANT OR PROBLEM CHILDREN, BUT AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE IS INVOLVED HERE.

"IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION HAS THE MEANS OF ENSURING THAT ALL CHILDREN OF COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE HAVE A SCHOOL TO GO TO.

"I SHOULD LIKE TO MENTION, IN THIS CONNECTION, THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S CURRENT STUDY OF CURRICULA AND BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS IN SCHOOLS.

"ONE PROPOSAL BEING CONSIDERED BY THE COMMISSION IS THE POSSIBILITY OF PROVIDING A SMALL NUMBER OF SCHOOLS CATERING SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE CHILDREN

WHO, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, REJECT THE TYPE OF EDUCATION OFFERED IN THE MAINSTREAM OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM," HE SAID.

MR YEUNG SAID THE THIRD DEFICIENCY RELATED TO THE POWER OF THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION TO ENTER PREMISES.

SECTION 81 OF THE ORDINANCE PERMITTED THE INSPECTION OF ANY PREMISES WHERE AN OFFENCE AGAINST THE ORDINANCE WAS SUSPECTED.

HOWEVER, THE WORDING OF SECTION 87(1)(D)(I) CREATED AN OFFENCE OF OBSTRUCTION ONLY IN THE CASE OF A SCHOOL.

EVIDENCE

SCHOOL.

THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DIRECTOR ΤΟ OBTAIN THAT PREMISES WERE BEING USED ILLEGALLY AS AN UNREGISTERED CLAUSE 9 PROVIDED FOR ENTRY TO PREMISES SUSPECTED OF BEING ILLEGAL SCHOOLS, UNDER A WARRANT ISSUED BY A MAGISTRATE.

REFERRING TO WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS AN IMPORTANT ITEM IN THE BILL, MR YEUNG SAID CLAIMS HAD BEEN MADE IN RECENT YEARS THAT PROVISIONS IN THE LAW RELATING ΤΟ POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN SCHOOLS INHIBITED EFFORTS TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION.

"WHILST THERE IS LITTLE SUBSTANCE IN THESE CLAIMS, IF ONLY BECAUSE THE RELEVANT POWERS HAVE NEVER BEEN INVOKED, THE PROVISIONS WERE ENACTED AT A TIME WHEN THE PUBLIC SECTOR OF EDUCATION PROVIDED ONLY A SMALL MINORITY OF PLACES, AND WHEN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM WAS IN DANGER OF DISRUPTION BY CONTENDING POLITICAL FORCES EMANATING FROM OUTSIDE HONG KONG.

/"OUR EDUCATION

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