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even eagerness, to take part in these activities and by their arrogant behaviour and contempt for authority, they have shown that they have been thoroughly indoctrinated. Children, both boys and girls, have been arrested and convicted for possession of real or simulated bombs, for possession of inflammatory posters and pamphlets, for taking part in subversive demonstrations, in short, for all offences that arose from confrontation.
In many cases school premises were used as centres for confrontation and Police raids on them uncovered stocks of inflammatory literature as well as home-made weapons and explosives."
Following an explosion at Chung Wa Middle School on 27th November 1967, evidence came to light that the premises were being used for the manufacture of bombs. The school was closed under Section 51(1)(b) of the Education Ordinance on 28th November 1967, and its registration cancelled on 6th August 1968.
In
Inspection visits to communist-controlled schools were discontinued in May 1967, though their activities remained under observation. August 1967 the Director of Education informed the nine "hard-core" communist-controlled schools of thirteen conditions which they must observe, in order to satisfy the requirements of the Education Ordinance and Education Regulations. A special team of inspectors was formed, to check the degree to which the "hard-core" schools met these requirements.
Their reception was hostile, but no physical violence was offered to the inspectors. From January 1968 inspections by the supervisory inspectorate (checking enrolments, staff changes, fire-safety and health requirements) were resumed and continued throughout the year. There was a gradual improvement in atmosphere. Inspections have continued during 1969, and the inspectors report that they are now received in a correct and cooperative manner. During 1969, visits by advisory inspectors for mathematics, physics and biology have been resumed. These inspectors also report that they have been received in a correct manner.
Communist-Controlled Schools, Present Situation
The communist-controlled schools continue their efforts to expand their accommodation by the establishment of extensions of the main school. The degree of expansion which they have achieved is very limited in scale, but some concern is felt that their efforts may be increasingly directed to "new-town" areas such as Tsuenwan and Kwuntong.
At the same time, the tendency towards the development of more normal relations between the Education Department and the communist schools appears to be continuing; although there is no evidence of any change in the character or degree of political indoctrination attempted in these schools.