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Education
16. The Topley Committee on tertiary education should report in a few
months time, in addition an OECD review on primary and secondary education
should provide an opportunity for a fairly full overhaul. There are
likely to be proposals,for expansion of both universities and possibly
for a second polytechnic.
Police
17. As before, the staffing of the police at senior and middle levels
remains a major worry. Sir James Crane who recently inspected the RHKPF
has made useful suggestions for attachment of officers in an from the UK.
But the lack of really good people at the Deputy and Assistant Commission-
er level is the chief headache. Morale in the police has certainly been
affected by the MacLennan inquiry and also by the recent ICAC report on
increased corruption in the Force. The latter has been exaggerated by
the press but police confidence has certainly been shaken.
General
18.
I have concentrated on the problems [partly because it may be helpful
for Mr Blaker to have a picture of the situation before he visits in the
autumn and also because we need to bear the headaches in mind in preparing
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briefs for a new Governor. Confidence is brittle although we should not
under-estimate the underlying strength of the Hong Kong economy and its
continuing growth and adaptability. The main message I brought back
from Hong Kong was that while the search for a solution on the problem
of the future will be the major preoccupation of the new Governor the
answer on this is not going to come quickly. It is therefore equally
important to ensure that firm and effective government continues and that
gradual and sensible social reform is compatible with the maintenance of
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