TNAG-1723-FCO40-2436-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 49

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 13 January 1988

625

Of the 4 254 students who went to the United Kingdom, 3 768 were issued dent visas for the first time, of which 1 391 were in respect of primary and secondary studies and 2 377 for tertiary.

Similar breakdowns are not available for other countries.

To assist students who wish to study abroad, the Education Department operates a free advisory service to the public through its Overseas Students and Scholarships Section.

The Overseas Students and Scholarships Section has a large collection of reference materials on educational institutions in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the United States. Information on these institutions is obtained through formal and informal contacts with the institutions themselves, overseas education authorities, commissions and consulates and through exchanges with other organisations engaged in similar activities. Students wishing to know more about opportunities for study overseas or who have any doubts as to the authenticity of claims made by overseas institutions can seek detailed advice from officers of the section in the light of their own specific needs. In the past year, a total of over 26 000 such enquiries were received from students and parents.

Schools are regularly advised of the services available at the Overseas Students and Scholarships Section by circular. In addition, group sessions and seminars on overseas education are also organised through the network of the Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters and arrangements with individual schools. In view of the considerable number of students pursuing educational courses abroad, the section has in the past year made increased use of the media including the press, television and the radio to publicise its services.

Investigation of Stock Exchange officials

11.

MR. CHEONG-LEE asked: With regard to the recent investigation and arrest of several Stock Exchange officials by the ICAC, will this Council be informed as to whether every effort will be made to conclude the investigations as soon as possible in order to keep to the minimum unnecessary speculation about the investigations which might be detrimental to Hong Kong's image as an interna- tional financial centre?

CHIEF SECRETARY: The manner in which investigations by the Independent Commission Against Corruption are conducted is an operational matter for the Commissioner Against Corruption. However, the commissioner has informed me that it is his general policy that all investigations should be carried out speedily and that every effort should be made to complete them as soon as possible. This case will be no exception.