XN000022-1994-11-23 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1994

THESE ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS, PLUS THE EXISTING MEMBERS WHICH INCLUDE ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH AND TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE KINDERGARTEN OPERATORS, SHOULD PROVIDE THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE REQUIRED TO TAKE THIS IMPORTANT TASK FORWARD. BUT I HAVE TO POINT OUT ONCE AGAIN THAT UNIFICATION OF THESE TWO TYPES OF INSTITUTIONS IS A VERY COMPLICATED SUBJECT AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF STAFF AND MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND CHILDREN. WE MUST NOT THEREFORE SACRIFICE PRUDENCE AT THE EXPENSE OF SPEED. I EXPECT THE WORKING PARTY TO SUBMIT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE AND TO MYSELF BEFORE THE END OF 1995.

MR PRESIDENT, WHILE WE ARE WORKING AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN ON THE QUESTION OF DIRECT SUBSIDY, A POLICY DECISION HAS YET TO BE TAKEN AND THE FUNDING HAS YET TO BE SECURED. SO WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION IS IN PRINCIPLE IN SUPPORT OF MEASURES TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION AND WE HAVE ALSO ACCEPTED THE NEED TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF UNIFICATION OF KINDERGARTENS AND CHILD CARE CENTRES, IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO COMMIT THE GOVERNMENT

TO THIS MOTION AT THE PRESENT STAGE. EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS WILL THEREFORE ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON THIS MOTION. THANK YOU.

MARINE PARKS BILL INTRODUCED

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PLANNING,

FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR CANICE MAK, IN MOVING THE SECOND READING THE MARINE PARKS BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) :

OF

MR PRESIDENT,

I MOVE THAT THE MARINE PARKS BILL TO BE READ THE SECOND TIME.

THE AIM OF THE MARINE PARKS BILL IS TO PROTECT VALUABLE SEA AREAS IDENTIFIED AS ECOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT BY DESIGNATING THEM AS MARINE PARKS OR MARINE RESERVES. MEMBERS WERE BRIEFED LAST OCTOBER ON THIS PROPOSAL AFTER THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD AGREED TO IT IN PRINCIPLE AND HAD ALSO AGREED THAT NEW LEGISLATION SHOULD BE PREPARED. ACCORDINGLY, THE BILL HAS BEEN PREPARED,

UNDER THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES WILL BE THE AUTHORITY WHO WILL CONTROL AND MANAGE MARINE PARKS AND MARINE RESERVES IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD. BECAUSE OF THIS EXTENSION OF ITS ROLE, THE BOARD WILL BE RENAMED AS THE COUNTRY AND MARINE PARKS BOARD.

THE PROCEDURES FOR THE DESIGNATION OF MARINE PARKS OR MARINE RESERVES UNDER THE NEW LAW WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE PROCEDURES SET OUT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF COUNTRY PARKS UNDER THE COUNTRY PARKS ORDINANCE. THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL WILL DIRECT THE AUTHORITY TO PREPARE A DRAFT MAP OF A PROPOSED MARINE PARK OR MARINE RESERVE. THE AUTHORITY WILL PUBLISH THE NOTICE IN THE GAZETTE AND NEWSPAPERS, MAKE THE DRAFT MAP AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.

AND

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