HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-3 February 1988
705
health
authorities in order to enable them to have a clear picture of their stude conditions including physical defects, allergies, fitness for sports and outdoor activities, will Government inform this Council whether it will consider introducing similar practice for Hong Kong students as a matter of policy?
SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER: Sir, since 1978, the Medical and Health Department has been operating a Comprehensive Observation Scheme for all infants from birth to the age of five. The objective is to ensure that all congenital or developmental abnormalities are detected so that treatment and remedial action is taken as early as possible. Parents are thus made aware at an early stage of any physical or developmental problems affecting their children. It is likely that parents will pass this information on to the school authorities upon the admission of their children or after such conditions are diagnosed. In fact many schools request medical details of new entrants in the 'family particulars form'.
Separately the Education Department conducts a Combined Screening Programme of all Primary 1 pupils in order to detect visual, hearing, speech and learning disabilities. The results of this screening are conveyed to the schools concerned.
It is also the practice of schools to exempt pupils from physical education lessons or outdoor activities should their parents so request on medical grounds. Indeed a number of schools, especially at the primary level, write to parents at the beginning of each school year, asking whether their children need to be exempted from physical education lessons for health reasons.
In view of the measures that I have just described, I do not consider it necessary or practical, Sir, to require parents to submit formal medical reports to the school authorities on registration.
DR. CHIU: Sir, I am disappointed to hear that the Secretary for Education and Manpower is not in favour of my proposal. What I am concerned about is how we can ensure that when students with special health problems such as haemophilia, epilepsy, drug anaphylaxis, asthma, and heart disease, and so on, voluntarily supply medical information to the school authorities for record in case of emergencies, the authorities concerned...
HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: Dr. CHIU, excuse me, could you ask a question rather than make a statement please?
DR. CHIU: Yes, Sir. As not all parents voluntarily supply to the school authorities medical information on their children with special health problems, will the Government give consideration to my suggestion and introduce suitable measures?
SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER: Sir, as I said in my main reply, the Medical and Health Department already operates a Comprehensive Observa-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.