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(f)
The Quarterly Reports
It was reported that the system was working well and providing useful information.
ITEM 2: THE GOVERNOR'S LEGCO SPEECH
(a)
Child Labour
The imminent introduction of legislation to ban child labour was welcomed.
(b)
Public Welfare Scheme
The proposed scheme offering only limited benefits received a qualified welcome. It was agreed that it provides no substitute for the more extensive proposals for which Ministers have been pressing. The meeting was particularly concerned at the long delay which has been forecast before the scheme could be fully implemented. It was agreed that detailed comment on the proposals could not take place until the return and de- briefing of Mr Heppell, the DHSS expert and it was decided to hold a further small meeting after Mr Heppell's return to keep Lord Goronwy-Roberts in the picture.
(c) Consolidation of the Labour Department
The meeting was assured that the consolidation referred to in the Governor's speech did not indicate any intention to relax the department's effort. It was agreed that, Mr Hurst should visit Hong Kong in February 1978.
(d)
Education
The meeting was informed of and welcomed the proposal to extend compulsory free education up to the age of 15 by 1980. The enquiry into primary education set up by the Hong Kong Government was discussed. It was agreed that, with the consent of the Governor, one or more of Her Majesty's Inspectors should be offered to provide an impartial view of the quality of education in Hong Kong.
The current maximum proportion of 40% of pupils going on to senior secondary education was questioned although the proposed 50% increase in places in tertiary education between 1974 and 1980 was pressed. The possibility of graduates facing unemployment was raised and the importance of co-ordinating educational and manpower planning was emphasised.
(e)
Housing
The meeting considered this to have been very successful. It was agreed that, although quality was improving as well as quantity, the Governor should be urged to consider the social implications of housing and, in particular, the problem of tower blocks. The target of providing 42,000 housing units by 1984 under the subsidised home ownership scheme was praised and it was decided that Lord Goronwy-Roberts should be advised to offer his congratulations to the Governor.
/ITEM 3