GPS 360
CYPHER CATA
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 2008302
CONFIDENTIAL
TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 946 OF 20 SEPTEMBER 197
FOR LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS FROM GOVERNOR
FOPE HKK 2001
33
RECEIVED
2 1 SEP 1977
EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE.
DESK C INDEX
TRY
Can Taken
1. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECIDED THAT TO MAKE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION COMPULSORY AND ALSO TO PROHIBIT EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN OF JUNIOR SECONDARY AGE WOULD CAUSE CONTROVERSY UNLESS THE EDUCATION
WERE FREE. THEY CONSIDERED THIS A POPULAR LOCAL OBJECTIVE IN
ITSELF. IT WAS THEREFORE SO DECIDED. THE MEASURES TO BE PHASED
AS PREVIOUSLY ENVISAGED.
2. THE DECISION TO PROVIDE SCHOOLING FREE RESULTED FROM NEW FACTORS
THAT CHANGED MY MIND SUBSEQUENT TO MY LETTER TO YOU OF 13 JULY,
SINCE THE NEW PLANS COINCIDE ENTIRELY WITH YOUR OWN VIEWS, I
THOUGHT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.
3. THE BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PHASING IN OF THE MANY NEW
SOCIAL WELFARE PROPOSALS WILL HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED AGAINST THE
BACKGROUND OF THIS NEW CHARGE WHICH WILL AMOUNT TO ABOUT
DOLLARS EIGHTYFIVE MILLION A YEAR.
4. I DOUBT IF IT WILL HAVE MUCH SIGNIFICANCE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER MUCH LANGER FACTORS. THE COUNCIL TOOK THE VIEW THAT THE PACKAGE OF SOCIAL WELFARE PROPOSALS SHOULD STAND AND THAT AT THE WORST
PHASING OF ONE OR TWO ITEMS COULD BE ADJUSTED. THEY WERE
HOWEVER CLEAR THAT IN SO FAR AS PRIORITIES ARISE, FREE SECONDARY
EDUCATION SHOULD COME FIRST,
5. SO FAR AS MY SPEECH IS CONCERNED THE EFFECT WILL BE TO GIVE
IT MORE CONTENT. TO MAKE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION FREE AS WELL
AS UNIVERSAL WILL REMOVE MUCH OF THE CONTROVERSY THAT WILL SURROUND
IT BEING MADE COMPULSORY AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN OF
SECONDARY SCHOOL AGE BEING PROHIBITED. THE PROPOSAL WILL THEREFORE
NOW HAVE STRONG APPEAL. AT THE SAME TIME THE PACKAGE OF SOCIAL WELFARE PROPOSALS WILL STAND, AND WILL BE PRESENTED AS ENVISAGED,
BUT PERHAPS WITH A WORD OF CAUTION ABOUT THE PHASING OF ONE OR
TWO OF THE MANY ITEMS
MACKE HOSE
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