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EDUCATION
ionospheric, geomagnetic and cosmic ray phenomena. Investigations are also being carried out on problems of fouling in fresh-water pipelines and sea-water intakes. The department of chemistry is monitoring Hong Kong's atmosphere for sulphur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen oxide, and for solid particulates. The isolation of naturally occurring substances from Hong Kong plants is continuing.
In the faculty of engineering and architecture, new and continuing projects include inter-disciplinary studies of the safety and quality of high-rise buildings in respect of construction, economics, external and internal user-comfort, and soil stability. Other research covers electrical installations and electronics; heat transfer; fluids; and industrial engineering management, organisation and techniques.
The medical faculty is engaged on many research projects of special significance to Hong Kong. They include studies on the role of current infant nutrition practices in the growth of Hong Kong children; correction of and investigations related to spinal deformities and disorders and unequal leg lengths in the Chinese due to poliomyelitis; secretion of virus inhibitors in the colostrum of Chinese women; causes and metabolic changes in liver cirrhosis and cancer, epidemiology of infectious hepatitis and common hereditary anaemias in the Chinese; the inter-relationship between physical and psychological characteristics and psychiatric illness among Chinese women; normal growth and development of Chinese children in Hong Kong; a study of Chinese medicinal herbs; prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and ischaemic heart disease among Chinese; and changes of pulmonary and endocrine functions in narcotic addicts.
The Polytechnic
The Polytechnic was formally established in 1972, taking over the work of the former Hong Kong Technical College. The bulk of the Polytechnic's finances comes from the government through the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee.
The Polytechnic at present operates in accommodation taken over from the Technical College, a rented office building in the former Taikoo Dockyard premises at Quarry Bay and a group of one-storey temporary buildings. To cope with the rapidly increasing numbers of students and activities, the planning of a major pro- gramme of campus development on a site of nearly 26 acres at Hung Hom is in progress. The first phase of this plan is expected to be completed by the beginning of the academic year 1976-7.
Enrolments at the beginning of the academic year 1975-6 were 4,170 full-time, 2,463 part-time day-release and sandwich, and 14,299 part-time evening students. These compare with the corresponding student numbers of 3,175, 1,559 and 12,629 in 1974-5. In September 1975, more than 10,662 candidates competed for 2,131 places available for new students in full-time courses. The enrolment target for 1978 is 8,000 full-time equivalent and 20,000 evening students.
There are 14 teaching departments: accountancy; building and surveying; business and management studies; civil and structural engineering; computing science; design; electrical engineering; electronic engineering; languages; mathematics