XN000022-1997-03-19 — Page 31

-

29

-

In respect of school education, the Education Department has issued new guidelines for schools to develop their own civic education programmes. The teaching of the Basic Law has been included in the General Studies subject which is a core subject at the primary level. At the secondary level, students can also learn about the Basic Law through four different subjects. Resources available to schools include the provision of class grants to enhance civic education, finance for teachers to attend courses on the Basic Law, and teaching kits and other reference materials on the topic.

Turning to the Civil Service, the Government has provided regular training courses for civil servants, at various levels, since the Basic Law was first promulgated. In 1996, we conducted over 20 seminars on the subject and more are in the pipeline. At the same time a self-learning booklet on the Basic Law was distributed to all civil servants in order to provide them with a basic understanding of its contents and meaning.

Beyond the Civil Service, the Attorney General's Chambers have conducted lectures and seminars on the Basic Law for the benefit of outside bodies to whom they have also given copies of the self-learning booklet.

These initiatives have been well-received. The sharp increase in demand for materials on the Basic Law is a demonstration of increasing public awareness of this important document. Over 300,000 booklets on the Basic Law for various target readers have been distributed to the public through the Civic Education Resource Centre and District Offices. About 140,000 people have used the teleline stories hotline service since it was launched in August 1996. Over 6,000 civil servants have attended seminars on the Basic Law and over 130,000 self-learning packages have been distributed within the civil service.

The Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education is currently producing a CD-ROM on the Basic Law for release in mid-1997. In view of the increasing demand from the public to know more about the Basic Law, $8 million has been included in this year's budget for the Committee to step up publicity and promotion of the Basic Law in the next two years. With the additional financial resources, the Committee will take on more Basic Law programmes, co-operate with other bodies or organisations in undertaking projects, and increase allocation of funding for sponsoring relevant projects by community and voluntary groups. The programme of activities will include territory-wide exhibitions and competitions, television, radio, and other media publicity campaigns, teaching and resource materials for schools and voluntary agencies, and promotional handbooks for the general public.

In addition, the Government Information Services has earmarked a sum of $750,000 in 1997/98 for mounting a publicity campaign with emphasis on the Basic Law. And the Education Department plans to launch seminars entitled "Basic Law for Everybody" for both primary and secondary school teachers in April and May 1997.