76
EDUCATION
of public funds available for student financing. It is intended to enable the Government to achieve the aim of ensuring that students offered a place in either of the two universities should not be pre- vented, through lack of means, from accepting places.
Both the University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong have financial resources of their own, but are largely financed by the Government. Because of the importance of university development and the sums of public money involved, the Govern- ment needs impartial and expert advice both on the assessment of the amount of grant required to sustain any level of university activity and on developments necessary to meet the community's requirements for graduates. The Government also needs advice on the allocation of funds between the universities. To carry out these functions there is a University Grants Committee appointed by the Governor. It also acts as the formal channel between the universities and the Government.
The University of Hong Kong was established in 1911 with a land grant from the Government and endowments which have since been increased. Substantial government grants are also made towards the university's annual recurrent and non-recurrent expenditure.
The number of undergraduate places in each faculty in 1971–2 were as follows: arts 684; science 447; medicine 669; engineering and architecture 564; and social sciences, including law 498. Of these, a total of 885 places were available for new undergraduate entrants. There were also 474 places for postgraduate students, comprising 307 reading for higher degrees and 167 reading for diplomas and certificates, 32 students at the Chinese Language School and nine external students. The number of full-time teaching posts (including demonstratorships and tutorships) at the beginning of the academic year was 436. All the degrees and other professional qualifications conferred by the university are on the same footing as those of the universities in Great Britain.
The university's Department of Education offers graduates a one- year full-time course leading to a Diploma in Education and a two- year part-time course leading to a Certificate in Education. The department also offers the MPhil following a qualifying examination, either as a six-term part-time period of study spread over two academic years, or as a one-year full-time candidature. As in other departments, the PhD is also available for specially qualified and selected candidates.
The Department of Extra-mural Studies provided over 216 evening and day-time courses for adult students in 1970–1. During the period