XN000022-1992-04-01 — Page 33

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1,

APRIL 1, 1992

SOME

"THE STATUTORY COMPENSATION IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MITIGATE THE HARDSHIP CAUSED BY

**

RELOCATION,' HE SAID.

MR SUEN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT WHERE CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANTED, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT COULD, UPON APPLICATION, RECOMMEND THE ALLOCATION OF PUBLIC HOUSING ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS WHERE A DISPOSSESSED TENANT HAD FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

TURNING TO THE QUESTION OF REDEVELOPMENT TAX, MR SUEN SAID IT WAS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO ENCOURAGE REDEVELOPMENT OF PRIVATE PROPERTIES WHERE THIS WOULD RESULT IN AN IMPROVEMENT IN STANDARDS OF ACCOMMODATION AND/OR AN INCREASE

STOCK OF ACCOMMODATION.

IN

THE

DOMESTIC

"THE IMPOSITION OF A REDEVELOPMENT TAX ON DEVELOPERS WOULD TEND TO DISCOURAGE REDEVELOPMENT WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY DIRECT BENEFIT TO THOSE DISPOSSESSED BY SUCH REDEVELOPMENT, HE SAID.

IN CONCLUSION, MR SUEN SAID THERE WERE EXISTING RESOURCES то HELP DISPOSSESSED TENANTS WHO HAD FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, ADDING THAT IF THE LEVEL OF STATUTORY COMPENSATION WAS ENHANCED AS PROPOSED, THERE SEEMED TO BE LITTLE JUSTIFICATION IN PROVIDING FURTHER ASSISTANCE.

0

ED WILL INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AGAINST SCHOOLS

WHEN A COMPLAINT AGAINST A SCHOOL IS RECEIVED, A VETTING COMMITTEE UNDER THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL EXAMINE TO SEE WHETHER AN INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED, AND IF IT IS, THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICER WILL CONDUCT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE COMPLAINT.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN HIS WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ERIC LI KA-CHEUNG.

MR CHAN SAID SHOULD THE COMPLAINT BE SUBSTANTIATED, APPROPRIATE ADVICE WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL CONCERNED.

FOLLOW-UP VISITS TO THE SCHOOL WOULD ALSO BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE NECESSARY STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM, HE SAID.

ON PUPILS' HOMEWORK GUIDELINES,

HE SAID THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT REGULARLY ISSUED A GENERAL SCHOOLS CURRICULUM "HOMEWORK IN SCHOOLS".

**WHERE IT IS EVIDENT

CIRCULAR ON

THAT A SCHOOL IS NOT

AND

FOLLOWING THE

HIS

CO-OPERATION

GUIDELINES, THE SUPERVISOR IS INTERVIEWED ENLISTED.

/"SCHOOLS HAVE