XN000022-1995-01-09 — Page 11

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Ms Diana Mak, Head of Department, Department of Applied Social Studies, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Dr K C Pang, Deputy Director, Hong Kong Institute of Education who are experienced in training; and

a representative each from the Education and Manpower Branch and Health and Welfare Branch.

The Working Party will convene its first meeting next month.

The spokesman pointed out that the Working Party on Kindergarten Education was first set up in 1990 following the consideration of the recommendations of the Education Commission's Report No. 2 by the Executive Council.

"The Working Party was tasked to give priority to improvements in kindergarten education. This it has done during the past four years.

"Its remaining task is to look at the question of unifying all pre-primary services," the spokesman added.

End/Monday, January 9, 1995

First tunnel unit floated out

The first concrete unit for the Western Harbour Crossing has been successfully towed today (Monday) from the casting basin in Shek O quarry to a temporary mooring area in Tseung Kwan O.

This 35,000-tonne unit is one of the first four tunnel units which have been cast since mid-1994 at the specially constructed casting basin.

The Western Harbour Crossing, one of the 10 projects in the Airport Core Programme, is being developed under a 30-year build-operate-transfer franchise awarded by the Government to the Western Harbour Tunnel Company Limited in September 1993.

"Construction work is progressing very well, and provided there is no major difficulty during the sinking and jointing of the units, the tunnel will be opened to traffic on target by mid-1997," the Chief Engineer of the Highways Department, Mr Eric Glenville, said.