EDUCATION
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The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK), established in 1989 as the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong, makes higher education available to all through a system of open access and distance education. It was granted self-accrediting status in 1996 and then university status in 1997. Since 1993-94, OUHK has become self-financing. In 1998–99, more than 24 000 students were enrolled in the 44 degree and postgraduate programmes and 27 sub-degree programmes in four schools: Arts and Social Sciences, Business and Administration, Education, and Science and Technology. The university's Centre for Continuing and Community Education also offered 100 short courses intended for vocational training and enhancement purposes to more than 2 000 students.
Post-Secondary College
Hong Kong Shue Yan College, registered in 1976 under the Post-Secondary Colleges Ordinance, operates a four-year diploma programme. Its faculties of Arts, Social Sciences and Commerce offer day and evening courses to more than 3 000 students. The college is a privately-funded institution and does not receive any direct subsidy but government financial assistance is available to its students in the form of grants and loans.
Adult Education
Opportunities are available for adults to study in their spare time, either for personal development or to update knowledge and skills relevant to their work. Private schools offer language, business and computer courses. During the year, the Education Department provided courses from primary to senior secondary levels to adult learners at 42 centres. It also subvented adult education programmes operated by non-government organisations.
Student Finance
The Student Financial Assistance Agency administers several publicly funded schemes which ensure that students are not denied access to education due to a lack of means. It also administers privately funded scholarships awarded on the basis of academic merit. These schemes are described below.
Student Travel Subsidy
The Student Travel Subsidy Scheme provides a subsidy, on a means-tested basis, to full-time students between 12 and 25 who have not yet completed their first degree- level studies and who live more than a 10-minute walk from their places of study. Needy students who pass the means-test will receive a subsidy for home-school travel during term time at the rate of half the average of adult fare on public transport between students' residence and the location of their schools. In the 1997-98 academic year, $244.2 million was disbursed to 180 831 eligible students. With effect from the 1998-99 academic year, the upper age limit will be removed so that mature students can also benefit under the scheme.
Textbook Assistance
The Textbook Assistance Scheme provides cash grants, on a means-tested basis, to eligible Primary 1 to Secondary 3 students in public sector schools for the purchase of essential textbooks and stationery. In the 1997-98 academic year, $121.5 million was