are not above the law, it is, at best, a negative approach and, where necessary, Government must be in a position to offer positive proposals.
The provision of
free places in Government and Aided primary schools has been a very positive step forward, and there is some evidence that this move has caused the communists
considerable disquiet. Although the provision of primary school places by Govern- mert and Grant-Aided schools is probably adequate in terms of overail numbers,
shortages do appear in certain areas. When there is a local shortage, as at Tsz Wan Shan Resettlement Estate, the communists react to it very quickly and are able to offer school places very speedily, or alternatively offer to transport children free of charge to another school. It is essential that when local
shortages of primary school places occur that Government reacts speedily to remedy the situation, before the communist can take advantage of it.
74.
It is generally agreed that provision où secundary school places has lagged in Government's scheme of things and this situation is now being remedied by Education Department. It is recognized here that it would be highly desirable if a place in a secordary school could be guaranteed by Government to any suitable primary school child, without the considerable hardle which exists at present of starting the admission procedure all over again at this crucial stage, without any certainty of being able to continue the child's education. This is a problem the communist schools have generally solved.
75.
At the other end of the scale, the provision of Government kindergartens has been discussed frequently in the past, the feeling being that as funds available for education arc not unlimited priority must be devoted to post-primary expansion. This is probably a valid argument, but, at the same time, it must be said that if the communists can provide a child with a kindergarten place they have almost cortainly gained control of that child's education for the next ten years. community where most women are out of their homes all day, the provision of kinder-
fartens becomes almost a welfare service and as such has a social significance
beyond the educational field. Looked on in this light alone, it may well appear
In a
that extra expenditure would be justified.
SECRET