EDUCATION
79
which has almost been achieved. The capital works programme for the universities is currently geared to an annual growth of four per cent after 1983-4. This growth rate is, however, subject to review following consideration of the report on the development of post-secondary and technical education.
In November 1980, the government launched a committee to review post-secondary and technical education. The committee completed its work in June 1981, and limited consultations have taken place on the findings and recommendations in its report including consultations with the UPGC. It is the government's intention to issue a policy statement in early 1982.
Grants and interest-free loans for some students at the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic are provided from public funds under a government scheme. The scheme, administered by the Joint Com- mittee on Student Finance, ensures that lack of means does not prevent students from taking up full time places in any of the three institutions. In the 1981-2 academic year the amounts required for grants and loans have increased markedly compared with those of previous years following a review of the scheme. In 1981-2, about 60 per cent of all full time students received assistance. The total expenditure involved is $21.8 million in grants and $64.4 million in loans.
A further scheme was introduced in 1981 to provide loans to Hong Kong students studying at universities and polytechnics in the United Kingdom. These loans, which are also means tested, are intended to cover the difference in cost between the fees for United Kingdom 'home' students and students from overseas. In 1981–2, loans totalling $21.66 million were provide to 1 450 such students.
=
Hong Kong Polytechnic
The Hong Kong Polytechnic developed from the former Hong Kong Technical College and was formally established in 1972. The bulk of the polytechnic's finances comes from the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee.
The polytechnic has 17 teaching departments grouped under three divisions. The divisions are: the Division of Applied Science (comprising the departments of applied science, building and surveying, mathematical studies, nautical studies and the school of social work); the Division of Commerce and Design (comprising the departments of accountancy, business and management studies, computing studies, design, institutional management and catering studies and languages); and the Division of Engineering (com- prising the departments of civil and structural engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, industrial centre, mechanical and marine engineering and production and industrial engineering). In addition, there are two institutes and one centre - the Institute of Medical and Health Care, the Institute of Textiles and Clothing and the Centre of Environmental Studies.
At present, the polytechnic offers full-time, sandwich, part-time day release and part-time evening programmes of one to four years' duration. They lead to the awards of certificate, higher certificate, endorsement to the higher certificate, diploma, higher diplo- ma, advanced higher dipolma and associateship and cover a wide range of both technical and commercial subjects. The polytechnic also offers short full-time and mixed-mode courses. Short full-time courses are of less than one year's duration and are offered to meet recurrent demand. Mixed-mode programmes enable students to register on a unit basis and to select a suitable combination of daytime and evening classes. In addition, a number of part-time programmes are organised to prepare students for professional examinations and