XN000022-1991-04-17 — Page 32

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1991

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AND

IMPROVEMENTS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL HAD NOT BEEN NEGLECTED, MR LEUNG DREW ATTENTION TO THE 180 FOOTBRIDGES AND PEDESTRIAN SUBWAYS WHICH HAD BEEN BUILT IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

LAST YEAR, 1,600 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEMES WERE INTRODUCED HELP VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS MOVE EFFICIENTLY AND SAFELY.

TO

THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT ADDED THAT THE COMPUTERISED AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS WHICH HAD EFFECTIVELY MANAGED TRAFFIC FLOW

ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND KOWLOON, WOULD BE EXTENDED TO TSUEN WAN BY 1993. THE SYSTEMS HAD IMPROVED JOURNEY TIME BY ABOUT 30 PER CENT.

IN AN EFFORT TO ENHANCE EFFICIENCY AND SAVE PUBLIC MR LEUNG SAID A MAJOR INITIATIVE WOULD BE TAKEN THIS CONTRACT OUT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL.

RESOURCES, SUMMER ΤΟ

OTHER POSSIBLE AREAS FOR PRIVATISATION WITH THE AIM OF ACHIEVING BETTER VALUE FOR MONEY WERE BEING LOOKED INTO, SUCH AS THE MANAGEMENT OF PARKING METERS, VEHICLE EXAMINATION AND LICENSING.

"WE ARE ALSO KEEPING ABREAST OF THE LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IN TRANSPORT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD TO SEE WHETHER THEY CAN BE USEFULLY APPLIED HERE то HELP US BETTER MANAGE OUR LIMITED ROAD SPACE, MR LEUNG SAID.

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THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT CONCLUDED THAT IN THE LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF HONG KONG, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SUSTAIN OUR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC GROWTH BY CONTINUING TO INVEST IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BETTER MANAGEMENT OF ROADS, GOOD PUBLIC AND GREATER APPLICATION OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY.

TRANSPORT TRANSPORT,

NO INTENTION OF ERODING AUTONOMY OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON K.Y. YEUNG, STRESSED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION OF ERODING THE AUTONOMY OF THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS NOR OF ASSUMING A RESPONSIBILITY THAT RIGHTLY BELONGED TO THEM.

SPEAKING AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE RESUME BUDGET DEBATE, MR YEUNG SAID HE WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD GAIN THE IMPRESSION THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF QUALITY AND STANDARDS AT OUR TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS WERE WHOLLY, NECESSARILY AND EXCLUSIVELY DEPENDENT UPON MONEY.

"IT SHOULD BE SAID THAT TUE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR UPHOLDING STANDARDS AT OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND THE AUTONOMY TO DECIDE HOW THUS SHOULD BE DONE, LIES WITH THE INSTITUTIONS THEMSELVES.

"IT IS UP TO THEM TO CREATE AND POSTER THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL MOTIVATE THEIR STUDENTS AND ACADEMICS IN THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE. I WAS THEREFORE AMAZED TO HEAR ONE MEMBER CALLING UPON THE GOVERNMENT тся INDICATE TO THE INSTITUTIONS WHAT AREAS COULD BE CUT WITHOUT HURTING THE QUALITY OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, MR YEUNG SAID.

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/HE NOTED