XN000022-1991-12-19 — Page 17

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1991

WAR MEMORIAL PENSIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS VISIT EX-POW'S

MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL PENSIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND STAFF OF THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED BENEFICIARIES OF THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL PENSIONS SCHEME ΤΟ GATHER FEEDBACK ON THE OPERATION OF THE SCHEME WHICH WAS IMPLEMENTED ON DECEMBER 1.

ENJOYING HIS DAYS AS A RETIREE, 70-YEAR-OLD MR AU SZE-HO TOLD THE MEMBERS THAT HE AND HIS WIFE WERE GLAD THAT THE MAINTENANCE GRANT HE USED TO RECEIVE HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO A PENSION AS OF RIGHT AND THAT MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD TAKEN AN INTEREST IN THE SITUATION OF EX-PRISONERS OF WARS (POW'S).

ANOTHER BENEFICIARY, MR ANTONIO REIS SAID: "THIS DECEMBER IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME AS IT IS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PACIFIC WAR.

"AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE, I HAVE MET MANY OLD FRIENDS WHOM I HAVE NOT SEEN FOR YEARS.

"FURTHERMORE, THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR PAYING PENSION ΤΟ EX-POW'S AND WAR VETERANS HAVE BEEN SATISFACTORILY IMPLEMENTED, HE SAID.

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CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL PENSIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MR ANDREW SO, SAID: "THERE ARE AT PRESENT 515 BENEFICIARIES AND WE ARE PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME BEEN VERY SMOOTH SO FAR.

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MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MR CHRISTOPHER D'ALMADA DR WONG HONG-HIN, AND SECRETARY OF THE COMMITTEE, MR DENNIS LAI JOINED THE VISIT.

HAS

AND

ALSO

0

TEACHERS REQUIRE UNSTINTING PUBLIC SUPPORT

* * * *

TEACHERS HAVE OFTEN BEEN ASKED TO TAKE ON CURRICULUM PLANNING ROLES WITHOUT BEING GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THE REQUISITE COMPETENCE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION, DR VERNER BICKLEY, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

"THE NEED TO MATCH CHANGES IN THE TEACHING PROCESS WITH ADEQUATE PLANNING OF IN-SERVICE EDUCATION EMERGES, THEREFORE, AS A NECESSARY PRINCIPLE, HE SAID.

**

A THREE-DAY

HE WAS ADDRESSING THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE CONFERENCE ATTENDED BY ABOUT 400 OVERSEAS AND LOCAL SCHOLARS AND TEACHERS.

DR BICKLEY SAID TEACHERS REQUIRED UNSTINTING PUBLIC SUPPORT IF THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION WAS TO BE IMPROVED AND IF QUALITY IN LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGE TEACHING WAS TO BE ACHIEVED AND MAINTAINED.

/IN RETURN,