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TRANSLATION

DRAFT SPEECH BY HON MRS PAULINE NG

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

23.1.85

Education Commission Report No. 1

Sir,

The Education Commission Report No. 1 has covered a

wide range of educational issues and made many concrete

recommendations regarding issues of public concern. The se

recommendations would have far-reaching effects on the

development of the education system in Hong Kong in the next

ten years or so.

With the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Future of Hong Kong, we know for sure that we will have to face great political change twelve years later. So during the twelve years running up to 1997, we have to prepare ourselves for this change. I fully endorse the view of the Education Commission as stated in its Report No. 1 that Education is to play a very important role in the transition period:

"In the years ahead when important changes will take place in Hong Kong, we believe that the highest priority should be given to education as it is the means whereby the people of Hong Kong can strive for economic prosperity, social well-being as well as

personal fulfilment."

In view of the fact that "human resources" is Hong Kong's

principal asset, "investment in human resources" is of utmost

importance.

Among the various issues mentioned in the Education Commission Report No. 1, the JSEA is the most controversial one

and has roused intense public concern. The Commission

recommends the phasing out of the JSEA in 1991 through the

building of more than thirty new secondary and pre-vocational schools, the modification of the class pattern of the existing

schools and the purchase of F. 4 places in the satisfactory

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