Henry Tang, CY Leung differ on small classes
Two undeclared chief executive candidates differed yesterday on small classes in schools. Former chief secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen promised small classes would be 'a core part' of his education policy, but former Exco convenor Leung Chun-ying said the better option would be to reduce the number of classes each teacher had to teach. 'We could strive for small-class teaching, but with the same amount of teaching resources we could have fewer classes for each teacher, and that is more important,' Leung told an education forum hosted by the Education Convergence concern group. Tang also addressed contract teachers' grievances about getting less pay and fewer benefits than permanent teachers. He said that because of coming changes in the system, their complaints could not be solved until after 2013.
Finance minister warns of gloom in near future
While the city had good economic foundations and a bright economic future, its near-term outlook was a little gloomy, Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah warned yesterday, citing a drop in external trade figures and a cooling in firms' hiring plans. 'We do not have to be over-pessimistic, but need to face the reality,' he said on his blog.
Many young ignorant of district council elections
Four out of 10 Hongkongers aged 14 to 21 have no idea the District Council elections will take place on Sunday, a Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association survey of 700 in August found. And only about 30 per cent know district councillors will be eligible to stand for the new district council functional constituency seats in the Legislative Council.
