XN000022-1995-11-29 — Page 46

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In February 1993, the Provisional Governing Council (PGC) for the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) was established with a view to taking over the four Colleges of Education and the Institute of Language in Education (ILE). One of the early tasks of the PGC was to examine the requirements of the campus of HKIEd, the development capacities of the existing Colleges of Education, and the possibility of developing a unified main campus or retention/redevelopment of the existing Colleges of Education. The Architectural Services Department was requested to conduct a study on the development capacities of the sites of the existing Colleges of Education. A site search was initiated in parallel to identify possible sites for development of a unified campus.

As regards part (a) of the question, when the request for funding of the NCE expansion project was submitted to the Finance Committee of this Council in June 1993, no decision had been taken by the PGC on the future campus of the Hong Kong Institute of Education. Also, there was no application to acquire the NCE site. Hence the possibility that the library block might be used for other purposes in 1997 did not arise.

In July 1993, the PGC was informed of the various proposed interim improvement measures at ILE and the Colleges of Education including the NCE expansion project. In August 1993, the PGC decided that a site at Tai Po Area 34 was suitable for the development of a unified HKIEd campus. In September 1993, the PGC confirmed to the Administration that there was still a justified need for the construction works of the NCE expansion project to commence in order to improve the substandard facilities at the College and raise the quality of teacher training in the intervening years.

In May 1994, in seeking the Finance Committee's approval in principle for the HKIEd campus development project, the Administration informed Members that interim improvement works would be carried out in the existing campuses (including the NCE site) to upgrade the standard of accommodation and facilities.

As regards part (b) of the question, like all other government building projects, the NCE expansion project was required to go through a series of established procedures in its planning stage. The development of the project was co-ordinated by the Architectural Services Department. Relevant government branches and departments, namely the Education and Manpower Branch, the Education Department, Works Branch, Finance Branch, and the Government Property Agency were consulted and required to indicate their support, before the project was recommended for upgrading.