EDUCATION
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graduates taking the Diploma Course in Education, 23 to undergraduates in the Faculty of Arts, and 16 in the Faculty of Science.
To assist suitable pupils, in financial need, to take the two-year matriculation course and qualify for entrance to the University, the Government is also prepared to make main- tenance grants, up to a limit of $200 a month. During 1956 there were 112 recipients, the funds available amounting to some $7,500 a month.
Further maintenance grants, totalling $4,000 a month, were available in connexion with the 2-year Course run at the Special Classes Centre to enable selected pupils who have been successful in the Hong Kong Chinese School Certificate Examination to improve the standard of their English and qualify for entrance to the University. 49 new awards were made.
Higher Studies Overseas. A special committee advises and recommends students wishing to go to the United Kingdom for higher studies. The Head of the Students' Branch of the Colonial Office arranges their placing, and the Director of Hong Kong Students is responsible for their general welfare, including the arrangement of suitable contacts and hos- pitality. A table showing a distribution of these 807 students by the course which they follow is at Appendix XII. Most of these students are pursuing courses not available in Hong Kong.
In addition, 235 students went to the United States of America for further study, 111 to Canada, 196 to Australia, and 17 to Eire. Figures for Hong Kong students in the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and other countries are not available. Apart from the students listed in Appendix XII, there were 262 students in the United Kingdom taking pre- liminary courses and other courses.
The Government has acquired the Lancaster Gate Hotel in London as a centre and hostel for Hong Kong students