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but it is reasonably certain that of these receiving no instruction whatever the great majority are below the normal age of entry to primary schools.
As regards the wider issue of the Estates in general, the number of primary school places within all the Estates and in schools immediately outside, which cater primarily for the children of settlers is 131,608, i.e. a percentage of 130% of the recorded population of children of primary school age. Allowance must be made for unrecorded children in the Estates and the attendance of children from outside the Estates but the position would appear to be reasonably satisfactory and that very few children in Resettlement Estates of primary school age are receiving no regular instruction.
The Director of Education has been consulted about this matter and is in agreement with the general conclusions drawn in so far as they refer to children of primary school age.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, I thank the Commissioner for Resettlement for his comprehensive and fairly satisfactory answer. I would like to seek clarification in regard to the figure of 131,608 which is referred to in the penultimate paragraph of the reply. The Commissioner said this figure represents a percentage of 130% of the recorded population of children of primary school age. Does that mean then that as far as his records show there is universal primary education in the Resettlement Estates?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- There is no suggestion that there is such universal primary education. I will endeavour to reconcile these figures by pointing out that quite a number of children come from outside and that quite a number of other children are in fact living in the estates. All I am satisfied on is that the vast majority do in fact receive schooling.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- I think I asked in my Question, Mr. Chairman, what was the number of children between the ages of 4 and 10, who, according to available records, are without schooling. I have been given the figures for the Jordan Valley Estate but I asked in my Question what would be the figures for the other estates. I wonder whether the Commissioner has these figures available now?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I am afraid I do not have these figures available; we have never had such figures giving attendances in detail.
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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, from the figures quoted in the penultimate paragraph of the reply by the Commissioner it seems indicated that there are not many children in the resettlement estates who are of primary school age but are not going to school. Am I correct?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- That is precisely the conclusion that has been drawn.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- May I ask the Commissioner, Mr. Chairman, through you, whether he could provide me with more detailed statistics to show how this conclusion has been arrived at? I am rather curious to know.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I would dearly love to offer such statistics if we had them, but I am afraid it would necessitate a great deal of research. However, I shall be happy to look into the matter.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Thank you very much. Do I assume, Mr. Chairman, that these general conclusions were based on certain statistics which are available within the department?
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
In order to assist this Council in the long-term planning of its work, will the Chairman please inquire from Government what progress has been made to prepare a Master Plan for the future development of Hong Kong?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
I understand that the Planning Division of the Public Works Department is engaged in recruiting additional staff so that it may be able to make a start on preparing a Colony Outline Development Plan. It is thought, at this stage, that the preparation of the plan will take about 3 years.
I am informed that the plan will deal with land usage on very broad lines and will form the essential framework for a logical approach to the planning of individual areas.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, with particular reference to the context of the answer that has been given, may I ask the Honourable Director of Public Works, through you, what is the difference between a master plan and an outline development plan?
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but it is reasonably certain that of these receiving no in- struction whatever the great majority are below the normal age of entry to primary schools.
As regards the wider issue of the Estates in general, the number of primary school places within all the Estates and in schools immediately outside, which cater primarily for the children of settlers is 131,608, i.e. a percentage of 130% of the recorded population of children of primary school age. Allowance must be made for unrecorded children in the Estates and the attendance of children from outside the Estates but the position would appear to be reasonably satisfactory and that very few children in Resettlement Estates of primary school age are receiving no regular instruction.
The Director of Education has been consulted about this matter and is in agreement with the general conclusions drawn in so far as they refer to children of primary school age.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I thank the Commissioner for Resettlement for his comprehensive and fairly satisfactory answer. I would like to seek clarification in regard to the figure of 131,608 which is referred to in the penultimate paragraph of the reply. The Commis- sioner said this figure represents a percentage of 130% of the recorded population of children of primary school age. Does that mean then that as far as his records show there is universal primary education in the Resettlement Estates?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-There is no suggestion that there is such universal primary education. I will endeavour to reconcile these figures by pointing out that quite a number of children come from outside and that quite a number of other children are in fact living in the estates. All I am satisfied on is that the vast majority do in fact receive schooling.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I think I asked in my Question, Mr. Chair- man, what was the number of children between the ages of 4 and 10, who, according to available records, are without schooling. I have been given the figures for the Jordan Valley Estate but I asked in my Question what would be the figures for the other estates. I wonder whether the Commissioner has these figures available now?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I am afraid I do not have these figures available; we have never had such figures giving attendances in detail,
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261
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, from the figures quoted in the penultimate paragraph of the reply by the Commissioner it seems indicat- ed that there are not many children in the resettlement estates who are of primary school age but are not going to school. Am I correct?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-That is precisely the con- clusion that has been drawn.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I ask the Commissioner, Mr. Chairman, through you, whether he could provide me with more detailed statistics to show how this conclusion has been arrived at? I am rather curious to know.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-I would dearly love to offer such statistics if we had them, but I am afraid it would necessitate a great deal of research. However, I shall be happy to look into the
matter.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you very much. Do I assume, Mr. Chairman, that these general conclusions were based on certain statistics which are available within the department?
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
In order to assist this Council in the long-term planning of its work, will the Chairman please inquire from Government what progress has been made to prepare a Master Plan for the future development of Hong Kong?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
I understand that the Planning Division of the Public Works Department is engaged in recruiting additional staff so that it may be able to make a start on preparing a Colony Out- line Development Plan. It is thought, at this stage, that the preparation of the plan will take about 3 years.
I am informed that the plan will deal with land usage on very broad lines and will form the essential framework for a logical approach to the planning of individual areas.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, with particular reference to the context of the answer that has been given, may I ask the Honourable Director of Public Works, through you, what is the difference between a master plan and an outline development plan?
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