HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(b) Has the Department studied the effect on these schools resulting from the now almost free education available in subsidized ground-floor schools in the same estates? (c) Would the Department approach the Education Department to see what the Government intends to do to assist these schools, their pupils and their teachers, as a result of the growing gap between the financial capabilities of the two types of school?
(d) Would the Commissioner for Resettlement bring to the notice of the Director of Education the possibility that the new reduction in school fees may cause a movement of pupils from roof-top to subsidized schools? Would it be possible for the Commissioner to confer with the Education Department on the possible effects of the fee reduction in roof-top schools, with a view to possible policy changes?
THE CHAIRMAN, in the absence of ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT, replied as follows:
The answer to the first part of this question is that at present there are some 56,000 children attending roof-top primary schools.
The answer to the second part of the question is that the Resettlement Department has not studied the effects on roof-top schools of the increase in the number of aided places available in subsidized ground-floor schools, but will do so in conjunction with the Education Department. With regard to the third and fourth parts of the question, the Commissioner for Resettlement is prepared to approach the Director of Education to ascertain what plans there are, if any, for assisting roof-top schools adversely affected by the increased provision of aided places in ordinary schools. After examining the whole question with the Director of Education the Commissioner for Resettlement hopes it will be possible to prepare a paper for discussion by the appropriate Resettlement Select Committee.
MRS. ELLIOTT: Mr. Chairman, I do not want to embarrass you with supplementary questions on an important issue which even the Financial Secretary and the Director of Education do not make any announcement upon, but I do think that it is an important and urgent issue, so I would like to ask you, Mr. Chairman, if you would ask the Acting Commissioner to place this matter before the Select Committee very soon because the beginning of next term is the time when this new subsidy for schools takes effect.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, there is a fair probability that the number of school places catering for children in Resettlement Estates is equal to the demand, and would you also be good enough to refer to the Management Select Committee the question of discussing with the Director of Education what steps should be taken to have universal primary education for Resettlement Estate children, since this probability seems highly likely?
CHAIRMAN: It is hardly in line with the original question, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, but I shall pass the message to the Commissioner for Resettlement.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Thank you for your indulgence, Mr. Chairman.
MR. BERNACCHI: Also pass the message, please, is there any hope of it being compulsory?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I enquire why this question was not answered by the new Chairman of the Resettlement Policy Select Committee? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN: I think it is obvious; a new one will be appointed by a motion at the end of this meeting. There is an acting Chairman at the moment. (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI: I would be delighted to answer appropriate questions.
(3) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Can the Secretary for Home Affairs advise this Council how many City District Offices have already established Hawker Liaison Committees?
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS replied as follows:
Each of the ten City District Officers is now ready to call together his District Consultative Committee on hawkers. This is the precise name, Sir, upon which we agreed. When we considered the composition of these committees it became apparent that no single group of persons would be able to give us detailed local insight into every aspect of the hawker problem for the whole of one district. We are therefore constructing a sort of panel of individuals for each district; who from each panel will be invited to any particular meeting will depend on the nature of the problem which is to be discussed. I think it will be wise
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Page 12 of 237
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(b) Has the Department studied the effect on these schools resulting from the now almost free education available in subsidized ground-floor schools in the same estates? (c) Would the Department approach the Education Depart- ment to see what the Government intends to do to assist these schools, their pupils and their teachers, as a result of the growing gap between the financial capabilities of the two types of school?
(d) Would the Commissioner for Resettlement bring to the notice of the Director of Education the possibility that the new reduction in school fees may cause a movement of pupils from roof-top to subsidized schools? Would it be possible for the Commissioner to confer with the Educa- tion Department on the possible effects of the fee reduction in roof-top schools, with a view to possible policy changes?
THE CHAIRMAN, in the absence of ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT, replied as follows:
The answer to the first part of this question is that at present there are some 56,000 children attending roof-top primary schools.
The answer to the second part of the question is that the Resettlement Department has not studied the effects on roof-top schools of the increase in the number of aided places available in subsidized ground-floor schools, but will do so in conjunction with the Education Department. With regard to the third and fourth parts of the question, the Commissioner for Resettlement is prepared to approach the Director of Education to ascertain what plans there are, if any, for assisting roof-top schools adversely affected by the increased provision of aided places in ordinary schools. After examining the whole question with the Director of Education the Commissioner for Resettlement hopes it will be possible to prepare a paper for discussion by the appropriate Resettlement Select Committee.
MRS. ELLIOTT: Mr. Chairman, I do not want to embarrass you with supplementary questions on an important issue which even the Financial Secretary and the Director of Education do not make any announcement upon, but I do think that it is an important and urgent issue, so I would like to ask you, Mr. Chairman, if you would ask the Acting Commissioner to place this matter before the Select Committee very soon because the beginning of next term is the time when this new subsidy for schools takes effect.
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7
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, there is a fair probability that the number of school places catering for children in Resettlement Estates is equal to the demand, and would you also be good enough to refer to the Management Select Committee the question of discussing with the Director of Education what steps should be taken to have universal primary education for Resettlement Estate children, since this prob- ability seems highly likely?
CHAIRMAN: It is hardly in line with the original question, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, but I shall pass the message to the Commissioner for Resettlement.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you for your indulgence, Mr. Chairman.
MR. BERNACCHI-Also pass the message, please, is there any hope of it being compulsory?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I enquire why this question was not answered by the new Chairman of the Resettlement Policy Select Committee? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:-I think it is obvious; a new one will be appointed by a motion at the end of this meeting. There is an acting Chairman at the moment. (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI :-I would be delighted to answer appropriate questions.
(3) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Can the Secretary for Home Affairs advise this Council how many City District Offices have already established Hawker Liaison Committees?
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS replied as follows:----
Each of the ten City District Officers is now ready to call together his District Consultative Committee on hawkers. This is the precise name, Sir, upon which we agreed. When we considered the composition of these committees it became apparent that no single group of persons would be able to give us detailed local insight into every aspect of the hawker problem for the whole of one district. We are therefore constructing a sort of panel of individuals for each district; who from each panel will be invited to any particular meeting will depend on the nature of the problem which is to be discussed. I think it will be wise
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