HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 24 November 1993 993 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 24 November 1993 The Council met at half-past Two o'clock PRESENT THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE JOHN JOSEPH SWAINE, C.B.E., LL.D., Q.C., J.P. THE CHIEF SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE SIR DAVID ROBERT FORD, K.B.E., L.V.O., J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE NATHANIEL WILLIAM HAMISH MACLEOD, C.B.E., J.P. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE HONOURABLE JEREMY FELL MATHEWS, C.M.G., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALLEN LEE PENG-FEI, C.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS SELINA CHOW LIANG SHUK-YEE, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE HUI YIN-FAT, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LEE CHU-MING, Q.C., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE DAVID LI KWOK-PO, O.B.E., LL.D., J.P. THE HONOURABLE NGAI SHIU-KIT, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE PANG CHUN-HOI, M.B.E. THE HONOURABLE SZETO WAH THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG THE HONOURABLE ANDREW WONG WANG-FAT, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARTIN GILBERT BARROW, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS PEGGY LAM, O.B.E., J.P. 994 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 24 November 1993 THE HONOURABLE MRS MIRIAM LAU KIN-YEE, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU WAH-SUM, O.B.E., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LEONG CHE-HUNG, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES DAVID McGREGOR, O.B.E., I.S.O., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS ELSIE TU, C.B.E. THE HONOURABLE PETER WONG HONG-YUEN, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP THE HONOURABLE VINCENT CHENG HOI-CHUEN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG MAN-KWONG THE HONOURABLE CHIM PUI-CHUNG REV THE HONOURABLE FUNG CHI-WOOD THE HONOURABLE TIMOTHY HA WING-HO, M.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL HO MUN-KA DR THE HONOURABLE HUANG CHEN-YA THE HONOURABLE SIMON IP SIK-ON, O.B.E., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LAM KUI-CHUN DR THE HONOURABLE CONRAD LAM KUI-SHING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU CHIN-SHEK THE HONOURABLE LEE WING-TAT THE HONOURABLE ERIC LI KA-CHEUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE FRED LI WAH-MING THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG THE HONOURABLE STEVEN POON KWOK-LIM THE HONOURABLE HENRY TANG YING-YEN, J.P. THE HONOURABLE TIK CHI-YUEN HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 24 November 1993 995 THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN DR THE HONOURABLE SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI, M.B.E., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PHILIP WONG YU-HONG DR THE HONOURABLE YEUNG SUM THE HONOURABLE HOWARD YOUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE ZACHARY WONG WAI-YIN DR THE HONOURABLE TANG SIU-TONG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHRISTINE LOH KUNG-WAI THE HONOURABLE ROGER LUK KOON-HOO THE HONOURABLE ANNA WU HUNG-YUK THE HONOURABLE JAMES TIEN PEI-CHUN, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALFRED TSO SHIU-WAI ABSENT THE HONOURABLE EDWARD HO SING-TIN, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE RONALD JOSEPH ARCULLI, O.B.E., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MOSES CHENG MO-CHI THE HONOURABLE MARVIN CHEUNG KIN-TUNG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE THE HONOURABLE EMILY LAU WAI-HING IN ATTENDANCE MR MICHAEL LEUNG MAN-KIN, C.B.E., J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER MR MICHAEL SUEN MING-YEUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS 996 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 24 November 1993 MR ALISTAIR PETER ASPREY, O.B.E., A.E., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY MR RONALD JAMES BLAKE, J.P. SECRETARY FOR WORKS THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL SZE CHO-CHEUNG, I.S.O., J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS MR ANTHONY GORDON EASON, J.P. SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS MR HAIDER HATIM TYEBJEE BARMA, I.S.O., J.P. SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT MR GORDON SIU KWING-CHUE, J.P. SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES MR DONALD TSANG YAM-KUEN, O.B.E., J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY MR STUART WREFORD HARBINSON, J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE DR LEE SHIU-HUNG, I.S.O., J.P. SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE MR TAM WING-PONG SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES THE CLERK TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MR CLETUS LAU KWOK-HONG THE DEPUTY CLERK TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MR PATRICK CHAN NIM-TAK HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 24 November 1993 997 Papers The following papers were laid on the table pursuant to Standing Order 14(2): Subject Subsidiary Legislation L.N. No. Regional Council (Fees for Official Signatures and Miscellaneous Services) (Amendment) Bylaw 1993 ............................................................................................. 445/93 Urban Council (Fees for Official Signatures and Miscellaneous Services) (Amendment) Bylaw 1993 ............................................................................................. 446/93 Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 5) Ordinance 1993 (76 of 1993) (Commencement) Notice 1993 ............................................................................................. 447/93 Sessional Papers 1993-94 No. 30 — The Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong Annual Report 1992-93 No. 31 — Report by the Commissioner of Correctional Services on the Administration of the Correctional Services Department Welfare Fund for the year ended 31 March 1992 Address The Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong Annual Report 1992-93 MR PETER WONG: Mr President, as Chairman of the Council of the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong, I have the honour of presenting the fourth Annual Report and Audited Accounts of the Institute for the year ended 31 March 1993 which are tabled before this Council today. The Report gives a comprehensive account of the institute's achievements during that period, but I would like to highlight some major milestones that have been accomplished. 998 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 24 November 1993 OLI remains committed to the provision of higher education through a system of open access and distance learning. This gives an opportunity for all Hong Kong adults to study, with great flexibility at sub-degree and degree levels, regardless of their previous academic or other qualifications. All objectives set by the Planning Committee of OLI have now been more than met. The institute completes its first full cycle and is proud of its first set of 161 graduates who will be awarded their degrees later this month. I believe that the rate of student progress and the institute's ability to support them is amongst the finest open learning performances in the world. The institute has now proved its worth and role as the major provider of adult education at degree level in Hong Kong. During the year there were over 30 000 registrations in 37 different courses, with 15 000 individuals enrolled, 21 new courses were presented for the first time and the presentations of courses in the medium of Chinese increased. Instruction in the Chinese language is likely to be an area of major growth in the years to come as OLI meets the growing needs of the local population for the learning medium in the Chinese language. Another significant event has been the validation of all 17 degree programmes by the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation. An 18th degree programme received its approval on 1 September 1993. Three panels for each of the existing schools of Arts and Social Sciences, Business and Administration and Science and Technology, made up of a total of 34 international and local academics, scrutinized all aspects of the academic contents and the delivery system of courses to students. This very critical review gave its whole-hearted support to all operations, which was particularly pleasing considering the speed, physical and financial constraints that the institute has had to endure. All the staff of OLI deserves congratulations for this splendid achievement. With the establishment of the Centre for Continuing and Community Education the institute has been able to respond to the needs of the community by offering courses at sub- degree level. In addition, with its planned agency role in the presentation of postgraduate programmes of reputable overseas institutions, the centre is actively seeking out a strong position in the highly competitive continuing education sector of Hong Kong. Its establishment as Hong Kong's pre-eminent trainer of adults is being keenly pursued. Despite all the advances and new developments the OLI has still managed to reach a breakeven situation, with this past year being the last year of government subvention. In the future the institute will be entirely dependent on income from student fees and donations, with no direct funding from the public purse. However, to help in its viability and success the Government granted a site for the development of a permanent campus in Ho Man Tin, and also allocated a grant of HK$150 million towards its construction. With an additional donation of HK$71 million from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 24 November 1993 999 the institute expects to be in its own campus by the end of 1995. Planning is underway and the project is expected to be well within budget. The campus will enable an increase of services, facilities and support offered to staff, tutors and students, as well as serving to improve the institute's image in the eyes of Hong Kong. Additionally it will remove the current burden of high rental costs for the existing administrative and limited student- support premises. In looking at the accounts of the institute, I wish to draw Members' attention to the cost of studying at the OLI. Since its inception in June 1989 student fees have gone up by over 70%. While the OLI is still the lowest cost producer of undergraduate education in Hong Kong, the policy of full cost recovery will begin to limit access to only a small proportion of the target group: I wish to take the opportunity to urge the Government to consider ways and means of providing assistance to OLI students.