XN000022-1995-10-18 — Page 76

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Hostel for University of Hong Kong students

The following is a question by the Hon Zachary Wong Wai-yin and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is learnt that some students of the University of Hong Kong residing in Yuen Long, Tuen Mun and the Northern District have not been allocated hostel accommodation in the current academic year, resulting in those students having to travel long distances. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether the Government, in allocating funds to the universities for providing student hostel places, has imposed conditions requiring the universities concerned to accord priority to students living in remote areas in the allocation of hostel accommodation; and

(b) what assistance the Government will render to students living in remote areas who have not been allocated hostel places; and whether consideration will be given to providing them with a rent or travelling allowance ?

Reply:

Mr President,

(a) Under the existing policy, the tertiary institutions funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) are provided with capital subvention to cover at most 75% of the total construction costs of the approved hostel places. They are required to meet at least 25% of the total construction costs from private donations and also the recurrent costs of the hostels. In allocating the capital grants to the institutions, the Government and the UGC do not stipulate the conditions for the allocation of the hostel places. It is up to the institutions to allocate the hostel places to their students. Nevertheless, it is understood that the student's travelling time between home and campus is one of the main criteria used by the institutions for allocating hostel places to students.