Existing and Long-term Provision of Kindergarten Premises

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The Stakeholders’ Views and Committee’s Deliberations

6.1.4 A consultancy study had been commissioned to study KG premises-related issues, including KG rental issues and long-term solutions of providing more quality KG premises.

6.1.5 There were views that in order to have a stable supply of quality KG premises, KG premises should be either provided by the Government or owned by the KG operators in the long run. To achieve this, the Government should increase the provision of KG premises in public housing estates. Some have also suggested that EDB should explore the feasibility of having government-owned KG premises in private housing estates.

6.1.6 Another suggested measure to increase the provision of KG premises was through co-location of KGs and primary schools. On this suggestion, there were issues to be resolved, such as different facilities requirements for primary schools and KGs, safety issues and legal responsibilities of the operators, particularly if the KG and primary school concerned were operated by different SSBs.

6.1.7 To enable existing KG operators to own their KG premises, there were suggestions that EDB should provide incentives, such as setting up an interest-free (or low interest) loan scheme, for SSBs or operators to purchase their school premises.

However, some considered this not practicable as it had very complicated financial and legal implications, in particular for cases where the KG is closed and the premises sold. There were also views that the Government should be very cautious in devising policies which might have impact on the property market. Besides, some expressed concern over subsidizing private KG operators with public money through the loan scheme. In this regard, the Consultant had identified some issues of concern as follows:

(i) SSBs or KG operators may be exposed to high risks on property investment, as they may not be familiar with the real estate market conditions;

(ii) Fierce competition for SSBs or KG operators to purchase good quality school premises, which drives up the investment costs;

(iii) Limited availability of KG school premises for sale, as some private owners

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are not willing to sell their commercial property (e.g. shopping centres);

(iv) Regulations or arrangements for disposal of property if a KG ceases its operation; and

(v) Regulatory or accounting controls on the capital gain or loss given that the KGs are NPM.

6.1.8 While it took time to improve the physical accommodation and facilities of KGs, there were views that the Government should consider some short- or medium-term measures to provide children with a better learning environment, in particular small KGs or those without adequate facilities. In this regard, some, making reference to overseas experience, suggested setting up regional resource centres for providing various activity-based experiences for use by KGs. For example, the regional resource centres could provide facilities for running various learning programmes in areas covering science and exploration, nature, language, health and safety, culture, art and music, etc. The centres could also provide teacher training and parent education programmes or activities to maximise the use.

The Committee’s Recommendations

6.1.9 The Committee has taken into consideration the views of various stakeholders and members as well as the findings and proposals of the consultancy studies on KG premises-related issues.

6.1.10 The Committee recognises that a stable supply of quality KG premises is crucial to an increase in the number of KGs that will not have to collect additional fees to defray rental expenses. This could be achieved if KG premises could be provided by the Government or owned by the SSBs/operators in the long run. The Committee is of the view that as a long-term strategy, the Government may explore with the relevant bureaux or departments measures to increase government-owned KG premises in public housing estates, including setting aside adequate sites for KG use in new towns with new demand, and making available KG sites for relocation of existing KGs in aged districts/ areas whose physical accommodation and facilities require substantial improvement. The feasibility of similar arrangements in private housing estates might also be explored. Moreover, the Government might consider whether there is a need to study the feasibility of providing incentives to encourage

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SSBs/operators to acquire their own KG premises as a long-term strategy.

6.1.11 The Committee also recommends that the Government may explore the possibility of co-location of KGs and primary schools, either in existing primary school premises or in new schools. The Committee is of the view that this might be a possible option for KGs and primary schools under the same SSB. EDB might also consider revising the design of new primary school premises in the future to make co-location possible as and when necessary.

6.1.12 While it is the long-term target to provide more quality KG premises, some medium-term measures to support KGs in terms of premises facilities should also be considered. The Committee recommends that the Government may explore the feasibility of setting up resource centres, by region if feasible, for use by KGs.

Drawing from overseas experience, such centres would be able to provide a safe education environment and a variety of activity-based learning activities for children from KGs in the region. Given the scarcity of land in Hong Kong and the lack of adequate facilities, KGs and their children should benefit from such resource centres.

6.1.13 Given most KGs are operating in public housing estates or on private premises and need to pay rent, the Committee proposes that the Government would consider providing rental subsidy to KGs. Details on the proposal are in Chapter 7.