XN000022-1997-02-19 — Page 41

25

—

Noise abatement grant rates kept under regular review

Following is a question by the Hon Leung Yiu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is learnt that in order to abate the nuisance caused by noises, the Education Department has installed air-conditioning systems in the affected primary schools and provided a limited amount of subsidy for such schools to pay the electricity charges. Despite the ever increasing electricity charges, the authorities concerned have neither reviewed the situation nor raised the amount the subsidy. As a result, measures such as cutting back on air-conditioning time and even abandoning the use of air- conditioning have been adopted by the management of some primary schools so as to avoid excessive payment on electricity charges. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council whether it will consider:

Reply:

(a)

(b)

Mr President,

(a)

reviewing the amount of subsidy for paying the electricity charges in connection with the use of air-conditioning in the above-mentioned primary schools so as to solve the financial problem brought about by the adjustments of electricity charges; and

increasing the amount of the subsidy on a temporary basis so as to alleviate the financial burden on schools due to the adjustments of electricity charges if the review mentioned above cannot be completed before this summer?

Under the Noise Abatement Programme, the Government has been installing air-conditioners and double glazed windows in the classrooms, staff rooms and special rooms of public sector schools exposed to aircraft or traffic noise above 65dB(A). These schools are given a recurrent Noise Abatement Grant to pay for electricity charges and routine maintenance. Approved in 1988, the existing rates of the grant are as follows:

Type of room

Classroom and staff room

Special room

Rate per room per annum

$ 3,950

$13,890