XN000022-1993-06-30 — Page 48

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1993

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FUNDING ARRANGEMENT'S UNDER REVIEW

THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW REVIEWING THE EXISTING FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS TO ESTABLISH A BETTER BASIS OF FUNDING SUPPORT FOR VARIOUS KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES INITIATED BOTH BY THE GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT BODIES.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR CANICE MAK, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ERIC LI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"WE REALISE THAT WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND THAT A RELATIVELY RELIABLE SOURCE OF FUNDING SUPPORT IS NECESSARY FOR NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, IN PARTICULAR THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (ECC), MR MAK SAID.

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOCATED $1.7 MILLION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS AND $0.5 MILLION FOR THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN IN 1993/94.

MR MAK SAID THE FUNDING ALLOCATIONS FOR 1994/95 HAD NOT YET BEEN DECIDED BUT THE EXISTING SCALE OF BOTH THESE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS WAS EXPECTED TO BE MAINTAINED.

"IN

FOR

ADDITION, $3.37 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED IN 1993/94 THE FIRST ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE CENTRE AT THE OLD WAN CHAI POST OFFICE," MR MAK SAID.

THIS CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO OPEN TOWARDS THE END OF 1993 AND WILL BE AN IMPORTANT FOCUS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (ED) PROVIDED $752,500 FOR 350 SCHOOL VISITS TO THE MAI PO NATURE RESERVE IN 1993/94 AND A SIMILAR SUM IS EARMARKED FOR 1994/95.

THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED $1.7 MILLION IN 1993/94 FOR THE SAI KUNG FIELD STUDIES CENTRE TO ORGANISE RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL COURSE ON ECOLOGY, POLLUTION AND CONSERVATION FOR SIXTH FORM STUDENTS AND SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS. A SIMILAR ALLOCATION WAS EXPECTED IN 1994/95.

APART FROM GOVERNMENT FUNDING, VARIOUS NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.

THE BCC,

WHICH RAISES FUNDS FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS AND THE JOCKEY CLUB, HOPES TO RAISE $2 MILLION IN 1993/94 AND $2.2 MILLION IN 1994/95.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

BY COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS ALSO RECEIVED A DEGREE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING THROUGH THE DISTRICT BOARDS' COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES FUNDING SCHEME, THOUGH THE PRECISE SUM DEVOTED TO THESE ACTIVITIES COULD NOT BE QUANTIFIED, MR MAK ADDED.

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