Nr. Godden
Copy to: Mr. Moreton
DR. CHUNG
Regulivy
I refer to Mr. Moreton's minute of 14 November and attach some additional notes for Lord Shepherd's use at his meeting with Dr. Chung at 12.30 p.m. to-day.
Technical Education
It is indeed the case that Hong kong have put forward to us a project for a new Technical Institution, viz: a polytechnic provising advanced techological training. But at a meeting in August between representatives of the Hong Kong University Grants Committee (including the Chairman Mr. Herries) and the education advisers in the O.D.. the project was criticised primarily on the grounds that it did not set out clearly enough the role of the new institution as between the existing Technical College and the Universities) or establish the need for a new type of institution to meet the requirement envisaged. The members of the U.G.C. accepted that there were valid grounds for criticism here and that the project needed further careful examination in the context of Hong Kong's policy for the development of technical education as a whole. The Governor told me last month that he has already made arrangements for this further examination.
Dr. Chung's point, as I understood it during the course of a discussion at lunch yesterday. is that Hong Kong needs more facilities of the type already provided in the existing technical college and not a new institution which might tend to compete in the field already covered by the Universities. If this is his view it may well reflect the divergence of opinion in Hong Kong on the needs and goals of further development in technical education and Sir Arthur Galsworthy is right in advising Dr. Chung to press his views locally. The further examination which the Governor has instituted should afford him a full opportunity to do this.
The prospects of United Kingdom aid for technical education projects in Hong Kong are not at all good in these days of strictly limited overseas aid, but I am hopeful that if a sizeable project is decided upon we shall be able to make at least a token contribution
For the Minister's information. As only the Governor at present knows, I have put forward the Polytechnic as a possible candidate for funds which might be made available for projects in South East Asia in the context of non-military aid to counterbalance military withȧrawal. It has been accepted interdepartmentally as a starter; in this context H..). would contribute to the capital cost and in return Hong Kong would reserve a suitable proportion of the places for students from other countries in the region as nominated by H.M.O
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