TNAG-1735-FCO40-2448-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 78

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 1 June 1988

Having taken into account the advice of the education panel, the Executive Council decided that, with effect from 1 October 1986, recreational trips should cease to be subsidised. The subsidy was accordingly withdrawn from journeys made on Sundays and in the major school holidays.

During the most recent review of the scheme, we consulted the OMELCO Education Panel, the Board of Education, six secondary school councils and representatives of the Hong Kong Federation of Students. On this occasion, these were felt to be the most appropriate bodies to consult since the purpose of the review was to relate the scheme more closely to strictly educational needs. The decision not to subsidise recreational travel had already been taken in 1986.

Nevertheless, we do recognise the importance of extra-curricular activities in the education of our young people, and the new scheme will include in the subsidy a provision for four additional trips each week to assist students to take part in such activities.

This level of provision for additional trips was considered reasonable by the six secondary schools councils that we consulted. Many extra-curricular acti- vities do, of course, take place after school hours on school premises, and in such cases no additional travel is involved.

MRS. TAM (in Cantonese): Sir, in 1986 when the student travel subsidy scheme was reviewed, the subsidy for recreational trips was not included but in this latest review it was decided that four additional trips each week will be subsidised. Can the Government clarify whether extra-curricular activities also include recreational activities? If so, will it not contravene the spirit of the decision made in 1986?

SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER: Sir, I do not myself see any contradiction here. Extra-curricular activities may overlap with recreational activities but the purpose is to limit journeys to those which have an extra- curricular content related to education. These may happen to be recreational but I do not think it contradicts the spirit of excluding recreational travel in general.

MR. DESMOND LEE: Sir, the present scheme is completely financed through public revenue. Has Government considered the possibility of asking transport companies to share part of the cost?

SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER: Sir, this possibility was considered. The effect would be to increase the cost of travel for all passengers and this was felt to be unfair.

MRS. NG (in Cantonese): Sir, at present there are school liaison committees in many districts. Were these committees consulted? I know that the new scheme will cause some inconvenience to parents; has the Government consulted the parents' association, so that the views of parents can be made known?