E
will have the skills and expertise required to enable the territory to maintain and improve its position in the fiercely competitive economic and trading environment within which Hong Kong operates." Views expressed have concentrated on:
-educational reforms,
-validation and recognition of professional qualifications.
4.39 In the context of educational reforms, suggestions made included:-
The use of Chinese as the medium of instruction although there was a prevailing feeling that the teaching of English should also be given sufficient emphasis;
The teaching of Putonghua and simplified Chinese characters;
The inclusion of contemporary Chinese history in the curriculum;
The promotion of political education in schools;
The promotion of civic education in order to prepare the next generation for the changes in 1997;
The early implementation of recommendations in "Report of Panel of Visitors-A Perspective on Education in Hong Kong "; and
The setting up of an open university.
4.40 To check brain-drain, many professional organizations and academic institutes were keen that the qualifications of their members should continue to be recognised both in the Hong Kong SAR and in other parts of the world. There were fears that Hong Kong's own training in certain professional and academic fields might not be recognised by over- seas institutions once Hong Kong ceased to be a British Dependent Territory. They considered that the best way to safeguard Hong Kong's interests would be for Hong Kong to have its own authority to assess the standards of professional and academic achievements and to secure international recog- nition through the maintenance of overseas links. For the professionals, it was suggested that Government should encourage the establishment of a federation of professional bodies to hold internationally recognised exami- nations in Hong Kong to validate professional qualifications and to monitor the standards of professional practice.
4.41 Other important points referred to:-
The recognition and validation of academic and professional quali- fications obtained in China; and
The recognition and validation of professional qualifications obtained in non-Commonwealth countries such as USA.
Section XI External Relations
4.42 There was little comment on this aspect of the draft agreement. The views expressed concentrated on the recognition by other countries of the Hong Kong SAR's status.
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