XN000022-1996-11-13 — Page 47

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Reply:

Mr President,

(a)

(b)

Facilities of government-aided primary and secondary schools, such as school halls, playgrounds and classrooms, are generally not open to the public outside school hours, as the schools themselves often use them for a wide range of functions such as extra-curricular activities and parent- teacher association events. However, outside organisations can apply to individual schools for the use of school facilities for their activities.

Schools are encouraged to make the best use of the space available to them for educational purposes. In addition, the Education Department has issued guidelines to both government and aided schools on hire of accommodation to outside organisations for a variety of functions including organising public examinations and charitable functions; use of premises as polling/counting stations during elections; holding inter- school competitions; and operating adult/evening classes. In accordance with these guidelines, supervisors of government-aided primary and secondary schools can decide whether to allow an outside organisation to use the school facilities, having regard to the pupils' welfare and the nature and purpose of the proposed activities.

End

Supervision fee to meet overhead and staff cost

Following is a question by the Hon Sin Chung-kai and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Mr Dominic Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Does the Government know whether the Housing Authority's levy of a supervision fee on the management fees collected by the companies managing Home Ownership Scheme estates is for profit-making or cost-recovery; if not, of the use to which the supervision fee is put?