Date set for new Ordinance to be proposed to the Legislative Council

Education Post reports that the bill to amend the ESF Ordinance will be introduced later this month (Legco to debate ESF reform bill):

The English Schools Foundation has revealed that real estate and construction sector legislator Abraham Shek Lai-him will propose its amendment bill to the Legislative Council.

The bill includes substantial changes to the organisation's governance. Legco's education panel is due to discuss the Ordinance (Amendment) Bill on March 22 before it is formally gazetted with the council.

The private member's bill, which was formulated after the Public Accounts Committee called for reform of the organisation's governance in 2005 and criticism by the Director of Audit, will replace the ESF's 130-member foundation and executive committee with a 25-member board of governors.

The board will consist of 10 independent members, seven parents, three ESF staff representatives, three school council members and two Legco members. ESF chief executive, Heather Du Quesnay will be a non-voting member.

Mr Shek, who was a member of the Public Accounts Committee, said he decided to propose the bill because he believed the continual development of the ESF was important for Hong Kong. He was confident the bill would be passed.

"I do not see why they won't pass a bill that strives to introduce improvement and recommendations of good governance to the foundation," he said.

ESF chairman Professor Felice Lieh Mak said the ESF was confident that the bill addressed the criticisms that had been levelled at the organisation.

The revision of the organisation's governing structure also sets the stage for negotiations over the future of the ESF's public funding.