76.
The welfare aspect leads on to another point made in the body of the
paper, that communist schools, whatever their academic failings, provide more in
the way of extra curricula activities and general all round involvement for
their students. It was recognised that in Government and aided primary schools
it is difficult to provide such activities not only because they are bisessional.
in operation but because the premises are used extensively in the evening by
adult education classes. At the secondary level there existed a wide range
of extra curricula activities in Government, aided and the better private
schools but it is doubted that these were as intensively pursued as in the
Communist teachers engaged in such work were strongly
motivated and in this respect they had the edge over teachers in neutral
schools in ensuring the allegiance and indoctrination of their pupils.
communist schools.
77.
One basic step, which might be taken at once, with little expense is
a publicity campaign to let the public now exactly what educational facili-
ties are provided by Government and grant-aided schools and what benefits such
as free books and remission of fees can be obtained by those in need.
A generalized publicity campaign needs to be coupled with a district campaign
to inform the dwellers in specific neighbourhoods just what is available for
their children. At this level mistrust of anything to do with Government is
coupled with sheer ignorance.
CONCLUSION
78.
Communist schools in Hong Kong are entirely subservient to the
CPG and are controlled by a CCP organization. Of recent years they have
received financial help from China. (paras.9-12 & 58)
79.
These schools have approximately doubled their number of pupils
over the last ten years and have increased from 2.1% to 2.6% (or 3.1% if the
S.B. estimate of total school population given at para. 22 is accepted)
their percentage of the total school population, in spite of the considerable
efforts made by Government to expand and improve the non-communist educational
sector. (paras. 16-22)
SECRET