HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
228
2.
Pre-primary services
The government should acknowledge the practical needs of the community while evaluating the kindergartens. Full subsidies and positive assistance should be given to kindergarten education.
Unless the government grants full financial assistance, it is not advisable to change the teacher/student ratio from 1:30 to 1:15. This is to avoid putting more weight on the already heavy burden of those who run a school.
In the training of teachers, full-time pre-service training should be provided as soon as possible while establishment of kindergarten training school confirmed in order to promote the standard of kindergarten teachers.
3.
Preparatory education
Preparatory education should be developed as an independent section in coordination with the system of universities and post secondary colleges.
The existing higher level and advanced level courses as well as the higher level and medium level courses suggested by the Education Steering Committee are so complicated and confusing that they constitute a waste of resources and put more pressure on the students.
The Hong Kong University Senate recently approved a change in the university system. This can help to bring a unification of the tertiary education system.
I suggest an integration of the higher level and advanced level courses into a one-year preparatory course. The university and post-secondary colleges should accept the entrance application of its graduates, so the secondary schools can save much resources by dropping the Form 7 courses.
4. Private Schools
The government should step up supervision of those private schools that are devoted to education and help improve their teaching standards and facilities so that the parents are more confident to send in their children. The government should continue to ‘buy school places' from private schools that are well-run so that local education can develop in a diversified way. Well-equipped private schools with their own school buildings and good reputation should not be denied financial assistance on political grounds. If aids can be granted by stages to help private schools attain the standard of subsidized schools within specified period of time before putting them on the subsidized list, it certainly can help solve the problem of inadequate places in government and subsidized secondary schools.
5. Open University
While being an international commercial centre, if we can have an open university in Hong Kong, we can provide more training and learning opportunities to people who are working and I am sure will bring about a general raise in the citizens' level of education.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
229
It is a great pity that the authorities concerned deny the feasibility of an open university with specious reasons.
I think, Hong Kong enjoys better conditions, so why cannot we establish an open university when Macau manages to do so? I suggest that the government and the authorities concerned should reconsider the matter seriously.
Mr. Chairman, with these words, I support your motion.
(Mrs. Nellie FONG and Dr. Philip C. K. Kwok left the meeting at 4.45 p.m.)
MR. LAM CHAK-PIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, today, this is my fourth speech in an annual debate and for this debate I would like to show my concern about the development of political system, social policies and municipal matters.
Development of political system
It can be recalled that ever since the announcement of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the concept of 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong' has been accepted by the people as a fact. At the same time, it has become a target pursued by all members of the public in Hong Kong. So the question as to how to develop the Hong Kong government into a government more representative of, and more answerable to, the people during the transition period between the present and 1997 without adversely affecting the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong naturally constitutes a major issue arresting the people's attention. To find a course leading to the realization of the aforesaid target surely depends very much on the people's participation and solidarity.
I, in principle, support the idea of direct election for Legco by 1988. The proportion of councillors to be elected in that way should not be less than one quarter of the total seats. Furthermore, there should be additional seats for representatives of functional groups. From the angle of time factors, we can see that 1997 is just a little over ten years from now. A period of ten years is not a long time. This is especially true for those who wish to undertake political reforms and review of district administration. It is necessary to get ready well beforehand. If we implement direct election from 1988 onwards and increase the proportion of seats thus elected step by step, then by 1997 we can indeed return the power of government to the people and materialize the political system of democracy.
At the same time, it is important to note that the mutual supplementation between democratic politics and civic spirit is a key factor in the realization of democratic politics. The paces of the developments of the two have got to be of the same speed. Otherwise, with one faster or more progressive than the other, there will appear phenomenon of abnormality and poor co-ordination. How can there be democratic politics in a society where everybody just gives attention and emphasis to the pursuit of private interests, and the hunt for economic, material and monetary gains but neglects public interests and social trends? Such a state of affair can be attributed to the long-standing adoption of
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Page 136
Page 136 of 201
Page 135 of 201
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
228
2.
Pre-primary services
The government should acknowledge the practical needs of the community while evaluating the kindergartens. Full subsidies and positive assistance should be given to kindergarten education.
Unless the government grants full financial assistance, it is not advisable to change the teacher/student ratio from 1:30 to 1:15. This is to avoid putting more weight on the already heavy burden of those who run a school.
In the training of teachers, full-time pre-service training should be provided as soon as possible while establishment of kindergarten training school confirmed in order to promote the standard of kindergarten teachers.
3.
Preparatory education
Preparatory education should be developed as an independent section in coordination with the system of universities and post secondary colleges.
The existing higher level and advanced level courses as well as the higher level and medium level courses suggested by the Education Steering Committee are so complicated and confusing that they constitute a waste of resources and put more pressure on the students.
The Hong Kong University Senate recently approved a change in the university system. This can help to bring a unification of the tertiary education system.
I suggest an integration of the higher level and advanced level courses into a one-year preparatory course. The university and post-secondary colleges should accept the entrance application of its graduates, so the secondary schools can save much resources by dropping the Form 7 courses.
4. Private Schools
The government should step up supervision of those private schools that are devoted to education and help improve their teaching standards and facilities so that the parents are more confident to send in their children. The government should continue to ‘buy school places' from private schools that are well-run so that local education can develop in a diversified way. Well-equipped private schools with their own school buildings and good reputation should not be denied financial assistance on political grounds. If aids can be granted by stages to help private schools attain the standard of subsidized schools within specified period of time before putting them on the subsidized list, it certainly can help solve the problem of inadequate places in government and subsidized secondary schools.
5. Open University
While being an international commercial centre, if we can have an open university in Hong Kong, we can provide more training and learning opportunities to people who are working and I am sure will bring about a general raise in the citizens' level of education.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 135 of 201
229
It is a great pity that the authorities concerned deny the feasibility of an open university with specious reasons.
I think, Hong Kong enjoys better conditions, so why cannot we establish an open university when Macau manages to do so? I suggest that the government and the authorities concerned should reconsider the matter seriously.
Mr. Chairman, with these words, I support your motion.
(Mrs. Nellie FONG and Dr. Philip C. K. Kwok left the meeting at 4.45 p.m.)
MR. LAM CHAK-PIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, today, this is my fourth speech in an annual debate and for this debate I would like to show my concern about the development of political system, social policies and municipal matters.
Development of political system
It can be recalled that ever since the announcement of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the concept of 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong' has been accepted by the people as a fact. At the same time, it has become a target pursued by all members of the public in Hong Kong. So the question as to how to develop the Hong Kong government into a government more representative of, and more answerable to, the people during the transition period between the present and 1997 without adversely affecting the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong naturally constitutes a major issue arresting the people's attention. To find a course leading to the realization of the aforesaid target surely depends very much on the people's participation and solidarity.
I, in principle, support the idea of direct election for Legco by 1988. The proportion of councillors to be elected in that way should not be less than one quarter of the total seats. Furthermore, there should be additional seats for representatives of functional groups. From the angle of time factors, we can see that 1997 is just a little over ten years from now. A period of ten years is not a long time. This is especially true for those who wish to undertake political reforms and review of district administration. It is necessary to get ready well beforehand. If we implement direct election from 1988 onwards and increase the proportion of seats thus elected step by step, then by 1997 we can indeed return the power of government to the people and materialize the political system of democracy.
At the same time, it is important to note that the mutual supplementation between democratic politics and civic spirit is a key factor in the realization of democratic politics. The paces of the developments of the two have got to be of the same speed. Otherwise, with one faster or more progressive than the other, there will appear phenomenon of abnormality and poor co-ordination. How can there be democratic politics in a society where everybody just gives attention and emphasis to the pursuit of private interests, and the hunt for economic, material and monetary gains but neglects public interests and social trends? Such a state of affair can be attributed to the long-standing adoption of
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Page 136 of 201
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