XN000022-1991-05-22 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1991

ADMINISTRATION COMMITTED TO IMPROVE LEGAL KNOWLEDGE

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OF

THE ADMINISTRATION WAS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE STANDARD LEGAL KNOWLEDGE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THE YOUNG, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MIRIAM LAU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID A GREAT DEAL OF WORK WAS DONE BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO PROMOTE LEGAL AWARENESS AND ENHANCE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE LAW.

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"SINCE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS BENEFICIAL TO EVERYONE, IT IS NOT SURPRISING TO FIND THAT APART FROM MANY ACTIVITIES TARGETTED SPECIFICALLY AT THE YOUNG, THERE ARE ALSO MANY OTHERS WHICH ARE AIMED AT THE POPULATION AS A WHOLE,' HE SAID.

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SCHOOL

AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL, MR MATHEWS SAID THE CURRENT CURRICULUM FULLY RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE OF PASSING ON TO PUPILS SOME BASIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE LAW AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM, THROUGH SUBJECTS SUCH AS ECONOMIC & PUBLIC AFFAIRS, GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL STUDIES.

IN

"TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE LAW AND ORDER AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM HONG KONG. TOPICS RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY, THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE CURRICULUM OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT THE ADVANCED LEVEL AND ADVANCED SUPPLEMENTARY LEVEL AND OF LIBERAL STUDIES AT THE ADVANCED SUPPLEMENTARY LEVEL, IN 1992.

"TO HELP TEACHERS IN THE TEACHING OF LAW-RELATED TOPICS, REFERENCE MATERIALS AND RESOURCES ARE MADE AVAILABLE IN CIVIC EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRES RUN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

"EDUCATION TV PROGRAMMES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE

ΤΟ ASSIST THE

TEACHING OF SOME TOPICS," HE SAID.

FOR PUPILS, MR MATHEWS SAID THEY WERE PROVIDED WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE LAW AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM THROUGH SCHOOL CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMES AS OUTLINED IN THE "GUIDELINES ON CIVIC EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS" PRODUCED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

"THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO FULLY RECOGNISES THE VALUE OF EXTRA- CURRICULA ACTIVITIES IN ENABLING PUPILS TO WIDEN THEIR EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE THE FORMAL CURRICULUM.

MUCH

"THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN SUCH ACTIVITIES, PUPILS FIND IT EASIER TO COMPREHEND ABSTRACT CONCEPTS RELATING TO RULE OF LAW AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

"SCHOOLS THEREFORE ORGANISE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS VISITS TO COURTS AND TALKS ON SUBJECTS RELATING TO LAW, HE SAID.

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