Sunday, March 10, 1974
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It should be remembered that Hong Kong's population has multiplied
sevenfold in a generation.
Nevertheless, since September 1971, education is free in all
governmont Chinese primary schools and in the majority of aided primary
schools.
!!
"This shows that the government in co-operation with voluntary
bodies had overcome an immense problem with determination and success,
the spokesman said.
"It is with the same enthusiasm that the government is tackling
secondary education expansion," he added.
The spokesman said the $1,069 million education bill for the
coming financial year included grants, refunds and assistance for various
types of schools, recurrent and capital grants to the two Universitics
and to the Polytechnic, loans to University students and subsidies for
students travelling in public transport.
!
Subventions alone in 1974/75 were expected to amount to $684,113,000.
By the end of this month, 614,420 places in aided primary schools,
are likely to be available and this number is expected to increase by
115,350 on completion of 59 aided school projects over the next few years.
The financial commitment involved in providing a total of 18,400
places by the end of 1976/77 for handicapped and educationally sub-normal
children in government and aided schools is estimated at over $23 million
for buildings and equipment and $17 million in annually recurrent expenditure.
/At the end ................
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