Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Email this article news.gov.hk
LCQ19: Christian Zheng Sheng College
************************************

     Following is a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, to a question by the Dr Hon Priscilla Leung Mei-fun in the Legislative Council today (April 21):

Question:

     The Christian Zheng Sheng Association has earlier written to the Panel on Education of this Council to seek members' assistance for the early relocation of the Christian Zheng Sheng College to the former site of the New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Southern District Secondary School in Mui Wo on Lantau Island, so that the College will not be disallowed to operate classes under the New Senior Secondary Academic Structure ("the 334 structure") for its students to take due to inadequate school facilities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) given that it has been reported that the Independent Commission Against Corruption has not found any suspicion of corruption or malpractice on the part of the Zheng Sheng Association and has thus terminated the relevant investigation, whether the Government has correspondingly changed its present stance on the relocation of the Zheng Sheng College; if it has, whether at present the Government still considers the former site of the Southern District Secondary School the most suitable for the relocation of the Zheng Sheng College, and when the College can be relocated the earliest;

(b) given that it has been reported that the Zheng Sheng College is required to improve the quality of its facilities and environment before the expiry of the allowed eight-year grace period by the end of this year in order to meet the licensing requirements under the Drug Dependent Persons Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres (Licensing) Ordinance (Cap. 566), or else its services may be terminated, whether the Government will consider exercising discretion to extend the grace period until the relocation problem of the College is resolved;

(c) as the Zheng Sheng College cannot be relocated shortly, whether the Education Bureau and the government departments concerned will offer assistance to the College and its students, including providing assistance for the College's operation, repairing the existing school premises before the onset of the rainy season, stabilising the slopes around the school premises and exercising discretion to permit the College to operate classes under "the 334 structure" even if the school facilities are inadequate, so as to enable the students to continue with their studies;

(d) given that some of the residents in Mui Wo have opposed to the relocation of the Zheng Sheng College to the former site of the Southern District Secondary School and criticised the insufficient provision of school places in the district, and yet the Zheng Sheng College has requested to move to Mui Wo, what measures the Government will adopt to balance the interests of both sides;

(e) with regard to the existing process for the Zheng Sheng College to be registered as a formal school, of the procedures yet to be completed, requirements to be fulfilled and necessary documents to be submitted by the College; and

(f) of the number and proportion of rehabilitated students at Secondary Five or below levels who could return to mainstream schools to continue their studies after receiving drug addiction treatment in addiction treatment centres in the past five years; whether the Government has planned to promote in Hong Kong the education model of drug rehabilitation school similar to the Zheng Sheng College and encourage more non-profit-making organisations to operate schools of similar nature, so as to cope with the situation that a large number of young people may need to receive drug addiction treatment in the future?

Reply:

President,

     The Christian Zheng Sheng Association (CZSA) runs six drug treatment and rehabilitation centres (DTRCs), which are all subject to the regulation of the Drug Dependent Persons Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres (Licensing) Ordinance (Cap. 566).  Five of them (including two at Ha Keng, Lantau Island with 64 places) are operating under Certificates of Exemption. Separately, CZSA has registered two classrooms in Ha Keng and two in Cheung Chau (58 places in total) as a private school named Christian Zheng Sheng College (CZSC) under the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279) to operate fee-charging courses for its residents, as a component part of their treatment and rehabilitation programmes. My reply to the questions raised by Dr Hon Priscilla Leung in seriatim are as follows:

(a) First and foremost, our anti-drug policy is to assist young people who are beset by the problem of drug abuse and resolved to mend their ways to turn a new leaf. The existing facilities of the two DTRCs of CZSA in Ha Keng are inadequate and there are difficulties in carrying out in-situ improvements to meet the statutory licensing requirements. The proposal to relocate the two DTRCs and related education facilities to the vacant premises of the ex-New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Southern District Secondary School (ex-SDSS) in Mui Wo not only will facilitate early improvement in the rehabilitation and learning environment for residents, but also increase the number of places (to 200), thereby helping more young people in need. This is in line with the Government's anti-drug policy and we have all along supported the proposal in principle. On this basis, the Government and CZSA in collaboration have since early last year conducted district consultation following established procedures.

     During the consultation process, issues of public concern have been raised, including the background and accounts of the services operated by CZSA, the transparency and accountability of the running of the DTRCs if reprovisioned. In concluding an enquiry at the end of last year, the Ombudsman also urged the Government to ensure that CZSA can run the treatment-cum-education programme efficiently and effectively with due evidence of sound integrity and good repute of CZSA as a charitable organisation.

     The Government has all along maintained communication with CZSA and requested the Association to follow up matters as they openly pledged in order to address the public concerns. This is a critical step before taking forward further the reprovisioning proposal. We expect a detailed response from CZSA as soon as possible to examine if the reprovisioning proposal remains in order.  Taking into account progress of such work, we will continue public consultation in collaboration with CZSA, and carefully consider further views collected.

(b) If the two DTRCs under CZSA in Ha Keng fail to meet the statutory licensing requirements before the expiry of the grace period, the Narcotics Division (ND), the Social Welfare Department and other Government departments concerned will make a detailed assessment and consider exercising discretion to extend the grace period, so that CZSA can continue with its improvement or reprovisioning programme for meeting the statutory licensing requirements.

(c) Before the reprovisioning proposal can be implemented, CZSA can apply for suitable Government or charitable aids for improving its facilities and services. For instance, the Beat Drugs Fund approved a grant of $500,000 in mid-2009 to finance CZSA's procurement of a boat to commute to and from Ha Keng.  Last year, ND also recommended a charitable fund to provide funding support for CZSA to carry out improvements urgently needed by the DTRCs in Ha Keng. The works were reported to have completed early this year.

     As regards man-made slopes and retaining walls that may affect the DTRCs, as well as three boulders on the natural hillside which have been judged to be potentially unstable, preventive maintenance and stabilisation works are being planned. Once the assessment and detailed designs are completed and necessary approvals obtained, the works could start within April.

     Before operation of fee-charging courses through CZSC, CZSA was granted Government subvention for operating educational programmes for its residents from 1995 to 2003.  If deemed necessary, CZSA may consider re-applying for subvention. The Education Bureau (EDB) is happy to discuss with CZSA.

(d) We are aware of the views and concerns of Mui Wo residents about the provision of school places.  Based on latest projections, the present student population of the Islands District has stabilised at this stage, and the existing schools already provide sufficient places to meet the demand. According to the allocation results of EDB's Primary One Admission System in the past few years, public primary schools in South Lantau have been able to provide enough primary one school places for local school-age children.  As regards secondary schools, only around 50 primary six students in the Islands District school net (including Mui Wo) participated in the Secondary School Places Allocation System annually in the past few years.  As a secondary school is required to run at least three secondary one classes, the number of students is too small to meet the requirement. In fact, these students can choose among over 30 secondary schools at Tung Chung, Cheung Chau, Hong Kong Island, etc. EDB does not consider that there is a need to operate a local school in the ex-SDSS premises. Nevertheless, EDB will continue to monitor the future development of the district and review the supply and demand of school places from time to time.

     Through carrying out discussions and explaining the justifications in various aspects, the Government will strive to ensure adequate communication among the community and all stakeholders with a view to working out an option that is in the public interest.

(e) Regarding CZSC's application for the operation of the New Senior Secondary (NSS) courses, it has been handled in accordance with the requirements under the Education Ordinance, as is the case for all private schools in Hong Kong. EDB has all along given proper advice and guidance. According to the information provided by CZSC in its application, only two classrooms in Ha Keng will be used for teaching, which exclude the two classrooms in Cheung Chau. If CZSC is willing to consider recommendations in EDB's reply of March to re-arrange the class schedule, to provide EDB with the expenditure details for operating NSS courses (in particular the payroll cost of teachers) in the coming three years and to provide adequate teaching space for residents by making flexible use of all registered classrooms in Ha Keng and Cheung Chau, EDB will process its application as early as possible. If CZSC fails to operate NSS courses, its students aged 19 or above may still sit for Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination as private candidates.

(f) The Government does not maintain statistics on the number and proportion of students who could return to mainstream schools to continue their studies after completing residential drug treatment programmes.

     We all along adopt a multi-modality approach in drug treatment and rehabilitation by providing different services to cater for the different needs of drug abusers with varying backgrounds and circumstances. For some casual and occasional drug abusers who have not yet developed a drug habit, they may, in principle, continue to go to school while receiving treatment and counselling services provided by relevant organisations and their schools.

     As for habitual young drug abusers who require residential services, their most basic and imperative need is to kick the habit, rebuild self-confidence, find a new direction in life, and reintegrate into society as soon as possible after rehabilitation. Education services provided there play a supportive and complementary role, aiming to maintain the basic education standard and learning momentum of young drug abusers and facilitate their return to mainstream schooling in the future. After rehabilitation, social workers or probation officers concerned will arrange suitable aftercare programmes, for example, finding suitable schools for them. EDB may also provide assistance.

     Since 1995, EDB has been providing subvention for non-profit-making voluntary agencies running DTRCs to operate educational programmes for school-age young residents. At present, 11 DTRCs are receiving the subvention. We are encouraging operators to strengthen the relevant educational services and actively consider enhancing support for the educational programmes. CZSA is currently providing drug treatment and rehabilitation programmes of a longer period and with school education components to school-age youth. This unique mode of service should not be regarded as a general practice.

     In sum, we welcome different modes of treatment and rehabilitation services, so as to provide youngsters in need and their parents with more suitable options. The Government plans to invite proposals for possible new and effective models of services within this year.

Ends/Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:54

NNNN

Print this page