XN000022-1990-11-14 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1990

MR YEUNG SAID THE INCIDENT HAD NO EFFECT ON EXISTING POLICY ON THE ALLOCATION OF PRIMARY ONE SCHOOL PLACES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

HE SAID: WHILE IT MAY ENCOURAGE OTHER PARENTS TO APPLY PRESSURE ON THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AGAINST ANY ALLOCATION THEY DO NOT LIKE, AND WHILE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH REQUESTS FOR CHANGE THAT ARE JUSTIFIED, IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION HAS TWO IMPORTANT TASKS TO PERFORM.

"THE FIRST IS TO SORT OUT AND PLACE UPWARDS OF 75,000 CHILDREN INTO PRIMARY ONE EACH YEAR; THE SECOND IS TO ENFORCE OUR SYSTEM OF FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION."

THUS, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, MR YEUNG SAID IF PARENTS REFUSED TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION WOULD HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ISSUE ATTENDANCE ORDERS TO THEM UNDER SECTION 74 OF THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE.

IN THE MEANTIME, MR YEUNG SAID THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WOULD STEP UP ITS PUBLICITY EFFORTS WITH A VIEW TO GIVING PARENTS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRIMARY ONE ALLOCATION SYSTEM.

0

METHANE IN TSEUNG KWAN O AIR TOO LOW TO POSE THREAT

CHECKS ON LEVELS OF METHANE ON THE AIR HAD INDICATED THAT LEVELS AT TSEUNG KWAN 0 (JUNK BAY) WERE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN AVERAGE LEVELS OF OTHER LOCATIONS IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

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IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG, MR BARNES SAID A CHECK BY THE GOVERNMENT ON OXYGEN PRODUCED AT THE TSEUNG O PLANT OF THE HONG

KWAN KONG OXYGEN AND ACETYLENE COMPANY HAD FOUND METHANE CONTAMINATION OF 10 TO 30 PARTS PER MILLION.

"

"THERE WOULD NOT, THEREFORE, APPEAR то BE ANY SIGNIFICANT CONTAMINATION OF OXYGEN PRODUCED AT JUNK BAY BY METHANE FROM THE BAY LANDFILL,' MR BARNES SAID.

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HE ADDED THAT THE HOSPITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WAS SATISFIED THAT THE PRESENCE OF METHANE IN SUCH SMALL QUANTITIES WAS NOT THREAT TO HUMAN HEALTH.

CHECKS ON THE STANDARD OF OXYGEN PRODUCED AT THE TSEUNG KWAN 0 PLANT BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAD CONFIRMED THE COMPANY'S EARLIER STATEMENT THAT THE OXYGEN PRODUCED WAS 99.6 PER MR BARNES SAID.

CENT OXYGEN,

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