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EDUCATION
training in Britain, and four British Council scholarships were awarded to enable graduates and post-graduates to study at British institutions. The Federation of British Industries granted five scholarships, two for two-year and three for one-year courses in practical training in engineering firms in Britain. Two officers of the Education Department were awarded scholarships for studies in Australia under the Australian International Award Scheme and the Australian Commonwealth Co-operation in Education Scheme respectively. One American Award for Colonial Teachers was granted to an officer of the Education Department.
EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION
A brief summary of expenditure by the Education Department from August 1961 to July 1962, is given in the table on finance in Appendix VI. In Government and Government-aided primary schools, fees are kept as low as possible and 10 per cent of all places are reserved for the free education of poor children. In government and aided secondary schools between 30 per cent and 45 per cent of the places are free.
LEGISLATION
All Government schools are directly controlled by the Director of Education. Other schools, with some exceptions, are subject to the provisions of the Education Ordinance. The exceptions include schools for the children of members of HM Forces, while the post-secondary colleges and the University of Hong Kong have their own separate ordinances. Under the Education Ordinance the Director of Education has general control over education in the Colony, and is required to keep registers of schools, managers of schools, and teachers, and to ensure that school buildings are adequately maintained and that the general administration, conduct and efficiency of schools and teachers are satisfactory.
Legislation to provide for the winding-up of the Grant Schools Building Depreciation Fund with effect from 1st April 1960, was enacted in October 1962. The fund was dissolved and all its assets were transferred to the general revenue of the Colony. The fund was established before the last war as a fund to assist grant schools with the provision of capital for new buildings when existing ones