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     Following is a question by the Hon Dennis Kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, in the Legislative Council today (June 24):

Question:

     In view of the coronavirus disease 2019 (commonly known as “Wuhan pneumonia”) epidemic, classes of primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong were suspended for almost four months, and it was only until last month that the schools started to resume classes by phases. Some parents of children with special educational needs (SEN) have relayed that their children were not provided with the necessary support and regular training during the period of class suspension, and that their children have demonstrated anxiety over class resumption. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the Government provided support services for SEN children during the period of class suspension; if so, of the details, including (i) a breakdown, by service type, of the number of children who received such services, (ii) content of the services, (iii) the government department(s) and the number of personnel involved, as well as (iv) the amount of expenditure incurred; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) whether it has formulated measures to assist SEN children in adapting to learning and school life upon class resumption; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) given that while the Education Bureau (EDB) wrote to all schools in Hong Kong on April 3 this year indicating that Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) at schools should review afresh and adjust the content of the plans for supporting SEN children as well as provide them with support through various means, there have been comments that quite a number of schools have just created the position of SENCO in this school year, and that the training received by SENCOs is insufficient for them to cope with the special circumstances that the schools currently face, whether EDB has taken measures to assist SENCOs in carrying out the relevant work; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) whether it knows if all on-site training services (including services provided under “On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services”) were suspended during the period of class suspension; if the services were not all suspended, of the types of services affected; of the number of service organisations whose service contracts were terminated due to prolonged class suspension, and whether the Government will provide support for these organisations; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) whether it knows the number of organisations mentioned in (4) which have decided that they will no longer provide on-site training services for schools in the next school year?

Reply:

President,

     In light of the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to safeguard the health of students, all students have not been able to return to schools to take classes from the Chinese New Year holidays till late May. During class suspension, the Education Bureau (EDB) has maintained contact with schools to understand their operation and needs, joined hands with them to tackle related problems, of which include the support provided in accordance with the situation of students with special educational needs (SEN). After class resumption, the EDB has continued to remind schools to suitably adjust their teaching and support arrangements, and provide support services for students with SEN according to school-specific circumstances and students’ needs. Our reply to the question raised by the Hon Dennis Kwok is as follows:

(1), (4) and (5) The EDB, on top of regular subvention, has been providing public sector ordinary schools with additional resources, professional support and teacher training to help them implement the Whole School Approach (WSA) to integrated education (IE). Schools may deploy internal resources flexibly to employ additional teachers and teaching assistants or procure professional services, with a view to adopting the school-based mode of support to cater for students with SEN.

     During class suspension, some students (including those with SEN) may feel disturbed. The EDB has been maintaining communication with the Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) of the schools, suggesting that they should lead the Student Support Teams (SSTs) to review and adjust the support strategies and content of support plans for students with SEN as circumstances arise. Furthermore, the EDB has reminded SENCOs to keep regular communication with parents to understand the students’ learning and emotional needs and changes, so as to provide appropriate learning materials, adapt the learning tasks for students and review their performance in learning and emotion jointly with their parents. During class suspension, SENCOs also collaborate with professionals (such as school-based educational psychologists (EPs), school-based speech therapists (STs) and school social workers) to provide targeted support for individual students with special difficulties and their parents.

     In addition, the EDB has developed teaching resources to support students with SEN, namely the anti-epidemic tips for students with autism spectrum disorders in adjusting to class suspension and resumption, tips for parents of students with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, and tips for parents of students with specific learning difficulties, for reference and use of school-based EPs, teachers and parents. A series of psychoeducational videos titled “Suspending Classes without Suspending Love in the Epidemic” have also been produced in collaboration with a non-government organisation. These videos, which were uploaded to the EDB YouTube channel in April and May this year, explain to teachers and parents how to help their students and children cope with emotions and mental stress, so that they can maintain their mental well-being during the outbreak of the epidemic and class suspension and stay positive when facing class resumption.

     As for the professional services procured by schools to support students with SEN, schools in general would discuss with the organisations concerned and continue to support these students through alternative modes (e.g. using electronic platforms or online video conferencing). Schools have also negotiated with the service providers the arrangements of providing support services to students after class resumption. According to the established practice, schools have to keep clear records of relevant contract terms and support arrangements relating to the outsourced services. At the end of the school year, schools should evaluate the effectiveness of the policy, measures and resource utilisation in support of students with SEN through the self-evaluation mechanism and submit a self-evaluation report on the implementation of the WSA to IE to the EDB. The EDB officers will look into their situation and offer professional advice accordingly during school visits. As schools have to face various challenges and pressure when dealing with the epidemic and class suspension, we have not specifically requested them to provide relevant figures on the above-mentioned matters, so as not to unnecessarily increase the workload and pressure on schools.

     Regarding On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services, according to the information provided by the Social Welfare Department, although service organisations temporarily suspended the provision of on-site services during class suspension, they continued to provide support for children and parents in need through different modes of individual training services, such as centre-based training with appropriate social distancing measures in place, e-learning and home training. In response to class resumption in upper kindergarten from June 15, the service organisations have resumed on-site training services for service users.

(2) To assist schools to prepare for class resumption and provide support to students (including those with SEN) to adjust to school life after class resumption, the EDB issued the Guidelines to Schools on Class Resumption in May this year. The Guidelines on Emotional Support for Students on Class Resumption which has been attached therein helps schools assist students in managing emotions that may arise from the epidemic and reintegrating into school life. The Guidelines have been uploaded onto the EDB’s website for school reference. We urge teachers to pay due attention to the learning, emotion and behaviour of students with SEN and maintain communication with their parents to understand their latest condition so that continued support can be provided where appropriate. SENCOs will also work with other professionals such as school-based EPs, school-based STs and school social workers to provide targeted support services to individual students in need and their parents.

(3) Starting from the 2017/18 school year, the EDB has, by phases, provided each public sector ordinary school with an additional teaching post to facilitate school’s assignment of a designated teacher to take up the role of SENCO to support IE. In the 2019/20 school year, all public sector ordinary schools have each been provided with a SENCO. When assigning a teacher to take up the role of SENCO, schools have to follow the EDB’s requirements and give thorough consideration to teachers’ experience in teaching and in promoting IE as well as their qualifications in special education. Basically, teachers assuming the role of SENCO should have at least three years’ experience in teaching and in promoting IE respectively and should have completed the training courses pitched at basic, advanced and thematic levels (BAT Courses) on supporting students with SEN.

     Over the years, the EDB has been encouraging ordinary schools to implement the WSA to IE and set up SSTs to motivate all teachers to adopt the 3-Tier Intervention Model to support students with SEN. Regarding teacher training, starting from the 2007/08 school year, the EDB has been providing serving teachers with BAT Courses and training targets have been set to equip more teachers with the professional capacity in catering for students with SEN, in order to enhance the effectiveness of the implementation of IE in schools. As such, all ordinary schools have aggregated a critical mass of teachers having received relevant training and acquired the knowledge of how to support students with SEN.

     SENCO leads the SST and works in collaboration with other subject panels and functional groups to support students with SEN in different aspects. Under the principle of the WSA, the IE support in the school is not solely taken up by SENCO. All school staff should be responsible for supporting students with SEN, and SENCO and a significant number of teachers have already received relevant training.

     Indeed, all teachers and the whole education sector do not have the experience of handling prolonged class suspension arising from an epidemic. During class suspension, the EDB issued a letter to schools in early April this year to appeal to school principals to continue supporting SENCOs by reviewing and adjusting the content of support plans as well as providing various kinds of support for students with SEN and their parents. Furthermore, the EDB has maintained close contact with SENCOs to better understand the situation in the flexible use of the Learning Support Grant, diversified modes of support, students’ daily learning, adaptation of learning tasks, social and emotional needs of students, etc. The EDB has also provided SENCOs with professional advice according to the challenges faced by schools. Following class resumption, we will continue to organise professional network activities for experience sharing and professional exchanges (including how to provide different modes of support through diversified strategies during an epidemic or under other special circumstances) amongst SENCOs, with a view to continuously enhancing their professional competence in the co-ordination, promotion and development of support for students with SEN. read more

     The Transport Department (TD) said today (June 24) that an additional one-off subsidy of $20,000 will be provided to kaito operators for each vessel deployed in kaito services, involving an amount of about $1.8 million.
 
     To assist the transport sector in coping with the operational pressure under the current economic environment amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has announced earlier the introduction of a series of relief measures. Kaito operators, who are owners of local commercial mechanised vessels, may directly be granted a one‑off non‑accountable subsidy of $10,000, a vessel licence fee waiver for one year and a one‑off survey fee subsidy.
 
     “The Government understands that the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the necessary anti-pandemic measures including strict boundary control and social distancing, has reduced the overall patronage of kaito services and that the operating circumstances of certain services may not be improved in the near future. In this regard, under the Anti-epidemic Fund, we will provide an additional one-off non-accountable subsidy of $20,000 to kaito operators for each vessel deployed in kaito services. The TD will issue letters to kaito operators to inform them of the application arrangements in July,” the TD spokesman said.
 
     There are currently a total of 72 kaito routes in Hong Kong. Most kaitos do not provide daily public transport services for the general public. Many of them are mainly intended for tourism or recreational purposes.
 
     For details on the subsidies for transport trades under the Fund, please visit the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk). read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Quat and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, in the Legislative Council today (June 24):
     
Question:

     Some residents of New Territories East (NTE) have relayed that the local and external traffic congestion problems have become increasingly serious. For example, there are heavy traffic congestions at the Lion Rock Tunnel, the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel and Tai Po Road (Sha Tin Section) during the morning peak hours every day, causing the residents to spend a lot of time travelling to work or to school, and affecting the livelihood of professional drivers. They have also pointed out problems such as the serious shortage of car parking spaces in the district. Regarding the transport issues in NTE, will the Government inform this Council:
     
(1) of the improvement measures implemented in the past four years by the Government in the Sha Tin District to alleviate the traffic congestions and the relevant details;

(2) whether it will (i) construct a new trunk road linking Ma Liu Shui and the Eagle’s Nest Tunnel, so as to divert the traffic of the North District and Tai Po District to and from Kowloon, thereby relieving the traffic load of roads in Sha Tin and Ma On Shan, and (ii) take forward the construction of Trunk Road T4 as soon as possible; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) whether it will (i) construct at the Sha Tin town centre an underground network of roads to replace the existing trunk roads, so as to free up above ground spaces for provision of pedestrian areas, and (ii) expeditiously construct multi-storey smart public car parks underneath the Sha Tin town centre and Ma On Shan Sports Ground, so as to address the serious shortage of car parking spaces in the district; if so, of the details and timetables; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) given that the same sections of the various cross-harbour bus routes running in NTE have different fares, whether the Government will urge the franchised bus companies concerned to make improvement; if so, of the details and timetable; if not, the reasons for that;

(5) whether it knows the details (including completion dates) of the works carried out by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) in respect of the stations along the East Rail Line (EAL) for (i) installing platform gates for all stations and (ii) narrowing the gap between the platform and the train; and
 
(6) as MTRCL is currently upgrading the signalling system of EAL in tandem with the Shatin to Central Link project, whether the Government has stepped up its monitoring of the upgrading work to ensure that the testing will not affect the train safety and services of EAL?

Reply:

President,

     The Government has been closely monitoring the road network and traffic conditions in the New Territories East, and will review changes in the medium to long term traffic demand for the major roads in the region in a timely manner, with a view to considering taking forward new road infrastructure projects or implementing road improvement works.

     After consulting the Transport Department (TD), Highways Department (HyD) and Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), our reply to the various parts of the Hon Elizabeth Quat’s question is as follows:

(1) To improve the traffic between the New Territories East and the urban areas, the Government commenced the works for a section of Tai Po Road (Sha Tin Section) of approximately 1.1 kilometre-long between Sha Tin Plaza near Sha Tin Rural Committee Road and Man Wo House of Wo Che Estate near Fo Tan Road to widen it from a dual two-lane carriageway to a dual three-lane carriageway. Commenced in July 2018, the relevant works are expected to be completed in 2023. Upon completion of the project, it will help divert traffic from the Lion Rock Tunnel and the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel to the Eagle’s Nest Tunnel and the Sha Tin Heights Tunnel.

     For improvement to local roads, the TD and the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) have been implementing progressively in Sha Tin since 2017 a series of road improvement works on roads connecting to or associated with the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel and the Lion Rock Tunnel, so as to rationalise and ease the traffic conditions in the vicinity of the two tunnels. Completed road works and improvement measures include the road markings enhancement and lane adjustment works at the junctions of Tai Chung Kiu Road/Lion Rock Tunnel Road, Tai Chung Kiu Road/Sha Tin Wai Road, Fo Tan Road/Yuen Wo Road and Tai Chung Kiu Road/Siu Lek Yuen Road as well as the adjustment of time allocation for traffic signals at the junction of Sha Tin Rural Committee Road/Yuen Wo Road. Road improvement works underway include extension of the right-turn traffic lane at the junction of Tai Chung Kiu Road/Fo Tan Road and junction widening works at Tai Chung Kiu Road/On Sum Street/On King Street. The CEDD expects that the two above-mentioned works items will be completed in the third quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2021 respectively.

     Besides, to alleviate the traffic congestion at the Tate’s Cairn Tunnel, the TD implemented traffic management measures in the tunnel control area during peak hours, which include placing temporary traffic cones between the first and the second left lanes near the Kowloon-bound toll booths to prevent other vehicles from obstructing the entrance of the Bus-Bus Interchange (BBI) for buses, and arranging staff of the tunnel management company to direct traffic at the BBI exit. On the other hand, in order to smooth further the operation of the BBI, the TD is liaising with the HyD to widen the entrance of the BBI, so as to alleviate traffic congestion at the tunnel caused by buses queueing into the BBI. The works are expected to be completed in end 2020.

(2) (i) and (ii) The CEDD is conducting an investigation study on the construction of Trunk Road T4. Trunk Road T4 will be a dual two-lane carriageway connecting Sha Tin Road and Shing Mun Tunnel Road/ Tsing Sha Highway. It will provide a direct road link between Ma On Shan and Tsuen Wan/West Kowloon bypassing local roads within Sha Tin District, thereby further improving the traffic conditions in the area. The investigation study is expected to be completed in early 2021. The CEDD will then proceed with the relevant statutory procedures and design work after which funding approval from the Legislative Council will be sought.

     In the long term, the Transport and Housing Bureau plans to take forward the “Strategic Studies on Railways and Major Roads beyond 2030” on the basis of the conceptual spatial requirements to be firmed up under the “Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030” (Hong Kong 2030+) planning study, which is being conducted by the Development Bureau and the Planning Department. Based on the latest planning information, the TD and HyD will examine the demand for and supply of the transport infrastructure, including railways and major roads, in Hong Kong from 2031 to 2041 or later. Based on the final development strategy of the Hong Kong 2030+ planning study, the TD and HyD will conduct strategic studies, which include examining the layout of the proposed railway and major road infrastructure (including the strategic routes between North District/Tai Po and Kowloon), in order to meet the needs for the overall long-term land use developments of Hong Kong. The TD and HyD will also examine the impact of the proposed transport infrastructure on the existing transport network in order to formulate the corresponding strategies. 

(3) (i) As the construction of underground transportation networks would have impacts on various aspects including transportation, environment, drainage, sewerage, land use and planning, provision of relevant facilities should in general be studied in the planning of new development areas. In planning the development of Sha Tin New Town, the Government already provided elevated pedestrian walkways and footbridges at suitable locations to separate the pedestrians from vehicular traffic as far as possible. Sha Tin town centre is currently a highly developed area. The construction of an underground transportation network in the town centre will require significant planning changes and will seriously affect private lands, properties and traffic conditions in the area. The TD therefore considers the proposal not feasible. In addition, complete separation of pedestrians from vehicular traffic is often not the most appropriate arrangement. For example, in order to facilitate loading and unloading of goods for shops on the ground floor, the footpaths outside such shops should be connected directly to the carriageways. There are also needs for emergency exits at suitable locations in the area to facilitate the operation of rescue vehicles.

(3) (ii) The Government will continue to provide public car parking spaces in suitable “Government, Institution or Community” facilities and public open space projects in line with the “single site, multiple uses” principle. Insofar as Sha Tin is concerned, the Government plans to incorporate a public car park in the “Amenity Complex in Area 103, Ma On Shan” project, involving about 400 parking spaces. As for the existing Ma On Shan Sports Ground site, subject to technical feasibility, the Government will also actively consider providing an appropriate number of public car parking spaces thereat when the site is redeveloped in future.

(4) The fares of franchised bus services are determined according to the scales of fares made under section 13 (1) of the Public Bus Services Ordinance (Cap 230). The scales of fares specified the maximum fare chargeable based on the journey distance and route group of a bus route. Since different bus companies have different operating history, mode of operation and district network, their respective scales of fares are not the same. In determining the fares for individual routes, franchised bus companies will, apart from making reference to the scales of fares, take into account actual circumstances including the operating environment of each route, and the fares of other similar public transport services, etc.
      
     The TD has been urging franchised bus companies to charge similar fare levels for cross-harbour bus routes serving similar catchment areas as far as possible. In fact, for the 39 cross-harbour bus routes now serving four districts in New Territories East (North District, Tai Po, Sha Tin and Tseung Kwan O), similar fare levels are charged for routes with similar catchment areas. However, the actual fare levels of individual routes may slightly differ from others having similar catchment areas due to differences in actual journey distance and the frequency and magnitude of fare adjustment of different franchised bus companies.

(5) (i) and (ii) The construction works of automatic platform gates (APG) along the East Rail Line (EAL) stations is under way. The strengthening works for the EAL platforms, construction of associated system equipment rooms and facilities have been substantially completed. Currently, part of the advance works for APG installation is being implemented. To suit the door locations of new trains, installation of APG will commence after the 9-car train replacement on EAL is completed. According to the work plan of the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), installation will be carried out in stages and the first stage will be completed by the end of 2022.
 
     On the other hand, as the 9-car trains are wider than the existing trains on EAL, the platform gaps will be slightly narrowed. Therefore, issues on the platform gaps will be resolved after the installation of the APG.

(6) The signalling system of the EAL is being replaced under the Shatin to Central Link project. As with other major railway systems and equipment, the MTRCL is conducting rigorous multi-stage tests for the new signalling system. The new signalling system of the EAL shall only be allowed to put into service after the EMSD has verified that it is in safe and sound condition to do so. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:      US Dollar Liquidity Facility tender result:    Tender date : June 24, 2020 (Wednesday) Settlement date … read more

     Following is a question by Hon Wilson OR Chong-shing and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, in the Legislative Council today (June 24):   Question:     &n… read more