XN000022-1995-04-19 — Page 58

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Regulation 51 of the Education Regulations stipulates "no smoking shall be permitted in any classroom during school hours". Offenders are punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding $5,000 and a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years. The Education Department also issues a circular at the beginning of every school year to remind school heads and supervisors that staff of schools should not be seen smoking when appearing in public in an official capacity.

Individual schools are encouraged to make their premises smoke-free or to set aside no-smoking areas for the benefit of their non-smoking staff, and many schools have already done so. The Education Department is currently in the process of consulting the Professional Teachers' Union and school councils on whether all schools should be designated as no-smoking areas. If the response is positive, we shall amend the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap 371) to give this statutory effect.

End/Wednesday, April 19, 1995

Education for the blind and mentally handicapped

The following is a question by the Hon Peggy Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Michael Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Regarding the present arrangement of putting some blind and mentally handicapped children together to be taught in the same school, will the Government inform this Council:

how many schools are at present adopting such an arrangement;

(a)

(b)

whether there are any differences in the curricula taught to the blind and the mentally handicapped children in these schools; and

(c)

whether the Government has considered separating the handling of resources allocated to the education of blind and mentally handicapped children in these schools; if not, why not?