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Following is a question by the Hon Audrey Eu and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, in the Legislative Council today (February 4):

Question:

Of the seven subvented schools for physically handicapped children in Hong Kong, two have hostels for students who need residential places. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council.

(a) of the number of children currently waiting for admission to the two schools and their hostels, as well as the average time such children have so far been waiting; and

(b) whether it has plans to provide hostels in the other five schools or redeploy the existing hostel resources; if so, of the details of the plans?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) Boarding facilities in special schools for children with physical disability are to cater for those students with long term boarding needs. The provision is on a territory-wide basis. According to our information as at 15 January 2004, five students attending other schools have applied for schooling and boarding services in the two schools with hostels in the 2003/04 school year. Arrangements have been made and individual students, for personal reasons such as health or completion of a school term, would be transferred either in the second school term or at the beginning of the coming school year. Such arrangements have been agreed with the parents concerned.

(b) In this school year, the two schools are providing 160 boarding places of which eleven are still vacant. According to past figures and the projected demand, the existing provision of boarding places in schools for children with physical disability should be sufficient to meet the demand. Hence, the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) has no plan to provide boarding places in the other five special schools for children with physical disability. Nonetheless, EMB will constantly review the demand and supply of boarding places in these schools. Should needs arise, EMB may explore the possibility of redeployment of resources for provision of appropriate services to cater for those students with long term boarding needs.

Ends/Wednesday, February 4, 2004

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