a reasonable range of secondary level facilities is to be provided. Co sideration is therefore being given to possible linking of existing primary school premises to adjacent secondary schools, and to the possible amalgamation of adjacent primary schools to provide increased secondary level accommodation. The scope for such ad hoc conversion of primary school premises is nevertheless limited, as individual primary schools are intended to serve a restricted area and falling primary enrolments do not necessarily indicate that a primary school is wholly redundant.
3.14 Conversion to secondary level usage is not the only choice when considering how best to make use of under-utilized Government primary schools. The special education diagnostic and remedial centres, the temporary College of Education at Hung Hom, and the Technical Teachers College are all operating in converted primary school premises. There are a number of other possible specialist usages within the sphere of the Education Department, and competing claims for surplus primary accommodation will require careful weighing. It is nevertheless expected that a measure of re-organization will permit some primary school premises to be utilized for additional secondary places.
School building programme
3.15 The 1979 targets set for secondary education can be achieved on time if-
(a) all existing and planned Government and aided schools accept and practise the flotation/extended day system to the fullest extent by September 1976;
(b) the schools building programme set out in Table II is fully
implemented on schedule; and
(c) the required number of 'bought' places in private schools can
be acquired.
3.16 It is estimated that, by 1983, there will be about 82,000 in the 12-14 age group and about 23,000 in the 15-16 age group living in the New Towns. Sufficient places for these children will, if possible, be provided in Government and aided secondary schools in the New Towns. The full achievement of this goal will require a further 57
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