15
Wednesday, January 7, 1976
GOVERNMENT AID TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS: SCHEME BEING STUDIED
The Director of Education, the Hon, Kenneth Topley, told the
Legislative Council today that the proposed scheme of government assistance
submitted by the Hong Kong Private Anglo-Chinese Schools Association was
being examined in the context of two considerations.
"First, Government must be satisfied that any scheme of assistance
to independent private schools that may be agreed upon does not constitute
subsidising profits.
"Second, it would not be appropriate, in my view, to consider the
proposals in isolation from the Department's plans to expand secondary
education and to implement the 1974 White Paper," Mr. Topley said.
However, he assured the Hon. Mrs. Joyce Symons who asked about the
proposed scheme that the Education Department had always recognised the
contribution of private schools in the provision of education in Hong Kong.
"For this reason, its policy has always been to try to help private schools
whenever possible," he said.
Financial assistance to independent private schools at present is
generally limited to fee assistance for pupils occupying bought plates in
these schools.
The proposed scheme, the Director said, concerned an extension of
government assistance "over and above the present arrangements."
In reply to the Hon. Miss KO Siu-wah's question on the better use of
government school playgrounds and premises after school or in the evenings
for recreational activities, Mr. Topley said that the Sports and Recreation
Unit of the Education Department was investigating ways of expanding the
present evening and weekend use of all school premises for recreation and
sports programmes.
/A pilot