LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 26 October 2007 919 OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Friday, 26 October 2007 The Council continued to meet at Nine o'clock MEMBERS PRESENT: THE PRESIDENT THE HONOURABLE MRS RITA FAN HSU LAI-TAI, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES TIEN PEI-CHUN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT HO CHUN-YAN THE HONOURABLE LEE CHEUK-YAN THE HONOURABLE MARTIN LEE CHU-MING, S.C., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE DAVID LI KWOK-PO, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE FRED LI WAH-MING, J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE LUI MING-WAH, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MARGARET NG THE HONOURABLE MRS SELINA CHOW LIANG SHUK-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JAMES TO KUN-SUN THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG MAN-KWONG THE HONOURABLE CHAN YUEN-HAN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE BERNARD CHAN, G.B.S., J.P. 920 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 26 October 2007 THE HONOURABLE CHAN KAM-LAM, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MRS SOPHIE LEUNG LAU YAU-FUN, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG YIU-CHUNG THE HONOURABLE SIN CHUNG-KAI, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE PHILIP WONG YU-HONG, G.B.S. THE HONOURABLE WONG YUNG-KAN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JASPER TSANG YOK-SING, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE HOWARD YOUNG, S.B.S., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE YEUNG SUM, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU CHIN-SHEK, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU KONG-WAH, J.P. THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, G.B.M., G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE MIRIAM LAU KIN-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE EMILY LAU WAI-HING, J.P. THE HONOURABLE CHOY SO-YUK, J.P. THE HONOURABLE ANDREW CHENG KAR-FOO THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ABRAHAM SHEK LAI-HIM, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE LI FUNG-YING, B.B.S., J.P. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 26 October 2007 921 THE HONOURABLE TOMMY CHEUNG YU-YAN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE AUDREY EU YUET-MEE, S.C., J.P. THE HONOURABLE VINCENT FANG KANG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG KWOK-HING, M.H. THE HONOURABLE LEE WING-TAT THE HONOURABLE LI KWOK-YING, M.H., J.P. DR THE HONOURABLE JOSEPH LEE KOK-LONG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE DANIEL LAM WAI-KEUNG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE JEFFREY LAM KIN-FUNG, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ANDREW LEUNG KWAN-YUEN, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALAN LEONG KAH-KIT, S.C. THE HONOURABLE LEUNG KWOK-HUNG DR THE HONOURABLE KWOK KA-KI DR THE HONOURABLE FERNANDO CHEUNG CHIU-HUNG THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG HOK-MING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE WONG TING-KWONG, B.B.S. THE HONOURABLE RONNY TONG KA-WAH, S.C. 922 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 26 October 2007 THE HONOURABLE CHIM PUI-CHUNG PROF THE HONOURABLE PATRICK LAU SAU-SHING, S.B.S., J.P. THE HONOURABLE ALBERT JINGHAN CHENG, J.P. THE HONOURABLE KWONG CHI-KIN THE HONOURABLE TAM HEUNG-MAN MEMBERS ABSENT: IR DR THE HONOURABLE RAYMOND HO CHUNG-TAI, S.B.S., S.B.ST.J., J.P. THE HONOURABLE TIMOTHY FOK TSUN-TING, G.B.S., J.P. PUBLIC OFFICERS ATTENDING: THE HONOURABLE HENRY TANG YING-YEN, G.B.S., J.P. THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION THE HONOURABLE JOHN TSANG CHUN-WAH, J.P. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HONOURABLE WONG YAN-LUNG, S.C., J.P. THE SECRETARY FOR JUSTICE THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL SUEN MING-YEUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK MA SI-HANG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE HONOURABLE STEPHEN LAM SUI-LUNG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AND MAINLAND AFFAIRS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 26 October 2007 923 THE HONOURABLE AMBROSE LEE SIU-KWONG, I.D.S.M., J.P. SECRETARY FOR SECURITY DR THE HONOURABLE YORK CHOW YAT-NGOK, S.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FOOD AND HEALTH THE HONOURABLE DENISE YUE CHUNG-YEE, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE THE HONOURABLE TSANG TAK-SING, J.P. SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS THE HONOURABLE MATTHEW CHEUNG KIN-CHUNG, G.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND WELFARE PROF THE HONOURABLE CEAJER CHAN KA-KEUNG, S.B.S., J.P. SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES AND THE TREASURY THE HONOURABLE MRS CARRIE LAM CHENG YUET-NGOR, J.P. SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT THE HONOURABLE EDWARD YAU TANG-WAH, J.P. SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THE HONOURABLE EVA CHENG, J.P. SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING PROF LAU SIU-KAI, J.P. HEAD, CENTRAL POLICY UNIT CLERKS IN ATTENDANCE: MR RICKY FUNG CHOI-CHEUNG, J.P., SECRETARY GENERAL MS PAULINE NG MAN-WAH, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL MRS VIVIAN KAM NG LAI-MAN, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 924 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 26 October 2007 MEMBERS' MOTIONS MOTION OF THANKS Continuation of debate on motion which was moved on 24 October 2007 PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): We now continue with the fourth debate session. MRS SELINA CHOW (in Cantonese): President, the middle class, as the mainstay of Hong Kong society, are very concerned about the education of their children. Parents who will make various sacrifices in order to facilitate their children in their education or ensure the admission of their children by a quality school can be found everywhere. Many parents do not mind working very hard or shouldering a heavier burden if only their children can receive quality education. However, I can say that the supply of places in local quality schools is not enough, particularly the demand for places in Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools and international schools cannot be fully met. At present, there are 18 DSS primary schools with 9 000 pupils accounting for only 2% of the total number of primary school pupils while there are 55 DSS secondary schools with 42 000 students accounting for only 9% of the total number of secondary school students. Demand for places in these schools has been earnest because of their repute. Worst still, subsequent to the announcement by the Education Bureau earlier that the standard intake places in Primary One in the next school year will be reduced by two in each class, some parents are worried about the chances of their children being admitted to prestigious government or subsidized schools, thus indirectly pushing up the demand for DSS school places. Take the just concluded discretionary admission stage of Primary One for the next school year as an example, while the general government and subsidized schools have received applications exceeding their places by just 200 to 300, there are long queues outside DSS schools. Some prestigious DSS primary schools such as the primary divisions of the Diocesan Schools, the primary school of St Paul's Co-education College and the Ying Wa Primary School which LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ─ 26 October 2007 925 will be converted into a DSS school next year are extremely popular. They have invariably received 1 700 to 2 000 applications, meaning that 12 or 13 applicants are competing for one place on average. The PLK Camoes Tan Siu Lin Primary School has even made a record for 2 250 applications have been received, meaning that 15 applicants are competing for one place on average. In other words, the number of applicants is higher than that of La Salle Primary School, a non-DSS traditional prestigious school, by 2.8 times. Pui Kiu College in Tai Wai, which has just been converted into a DSS school, has also received 1 200-odd applications, which is 10 times of its student intake. Thus, it can be seen that parents' demand for places in DSS schools is unprecedentedly high and the competition is as fierce as a battle. Regarding the international schools, there are 48 such primary schools offering 18 000 places, accounting for 5% of the total number of primary school places. But there are only 25 such secondary schools offering 14 000 places, accounting for less than 3% of the total number of secondary school places. Hence, it can be seen that the number of places offered by DSS schools or international schools is rather low in relation to the total number of places. In particular, the number of places offered by international secondary schools is short of the progression demand of international primary schools by 4 000, meaning that there are at least 4 000 graduates from international primary schools who are unable to further their studies in local international secondary schools. For the remaining students, they even have to compete for places with those who swarm into the international schools only at the secondary school stage. From this, it can be seen that the places offered by international schools in Hong Kong fall far short of the demand. Soon after the publication of the policy address, the English Schools Foundation published the student intake situation of its 10 primary schools. In the next school year, a total of 1 020 Primary One places will be offered which is outnumbered by the applicants by 1 300, resulting in 3 280 applicants being put on the waiting list. It is learnt that some parents, keen on sending their children to the international schools in time, are eager to purchase the debentures of some popular international schools so as to increase the chances of their children being admitted to these schools. The nominal value of the debentures issued by some international schools has doubled in two years.