XN000022-1993-03-10 — Page 28

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1993

"IT WILL EMBODY BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE CHINESE POLITICAL SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINA AND THE FUTURE HONG KONG SAR.

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APART FROM THE TOPICS INCLUDED IN THE FORMAL SCHOOL CURRICULUM, MR CHAN SAID PUPILS MIGHT ACQUIRE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHINESE POLITICAL SYSTEM THROUGH SUCH CROSS-CURRICULAR CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMES AS "THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE NATION", AND "THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY" AS DESCRIBED IN THE "GUIDANCES ON CIVIC EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS" PRODUCED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE OF THE EDUCATION KEEP DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO REVIEW THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM TO PACE WITH THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO REINFORCE PUPILS' UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEMS IN CHINA AND HONG KONG.

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FIRECRACKERS BAN TO STAY

SAFETY, INFORMED

THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THAT THE CURRENT RESTRICTIONS ON FIRECRACKERS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED IN THE INTERESTS OF PUBLIC THE SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR JAMES 80, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

KAM-

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON GILBERT LEUNG MR SO SAID THE DANGERS OF ALLOWING EASY INDIVIDUAL ACCESS TO FIRECRACKERS HAD BECOME A MATTER OF INCREASING CONCERN WORLDWIDE.

HO

—

PARTICULARLY CHILDREN

J

SUFFER AND

"EVERY YEAR. MANY PEOPLE SERIOUS BURNS AND OTHER INJURIES THROUGH MISHANDLING OF FIREWORKS FIRECRACKERS, HE POINTED OUT.

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THE EXISTING CONTROLS ON THE DISCHARGE OF FIRECRACKERS AND DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS WERE IMPOSED IN 1967.

THE BAN ON THE PUBLIC DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS WAS FIRST RELAXED IN 1975 FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE ROYAL VISIT.

THIS POLICY WAS FURTHER REVISED IN 1982, WHEN THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL DECIDED THAT DISPLAYS OF FIREWORKS COULD BE HELD ON APPROPRIATE CHINESE FESTIVAL DAYS AS WELL AS ON OCCASIONS IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG.

MORE RECENTLY, THE BAN HAS BEEN FURTHER RELAXED TO ALLOW USE OF PYROTECHNICS FOR FILM AND TELEVISION PROGRAMME PRODUCTIONS WELL AS FOR THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES, SUBJECT TO PERMIT,

OF

THE AS

"OUR EXISTING REGULATIONS HAVE THUS SERVED US WELL IN PREVENTING HAZARDS FOR OVER 25 YEARS, MR SO SAID.

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"DOING AWAY WITH THESE REGULATIONS, EVEN FOR DESIGNATED LOCATIONS, WOULD BE A RETROGRESSIVE STEP.

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"WE HAVE, THEREFORE, CONCLUDED THAT, WHILE THE SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS MAY NO LONGER APPLY, IT REMAINS IN THE INTERESTS PUBLIC SAFETY TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT RESTRICTIONS, HE STRESSED.

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