- 6 -
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1977
INCLUSION OF BUSINESSMEN AND INDUSTRIALISTS IN EXAMINATIONS
AUTHORITY WELCOMED BY UNOFFICIALS
*****
THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY BILL, WHICH AIMS TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY, WAS PASSED INTO LAW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
EARLIER, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, THE HON. ALEX WU SAID THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS, UNDER WHICH PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS ARE ADMINISTERED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, WERE NO LONGER ADEQUATE BECAUSE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG, THE EXAMINATIONS WERE USED AS MUCH FOR THE MEASURE- MENT OF ACADÉMIC STANDARDS AS FOR THE PURPOSES OF OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT.
MR. WỤ NOTED THAT THE BILL HAD BEEN FAVOURABLY RECEIVED BY THE UNOFFICIALS.
HOWEVER, HE WAS ASKED BY AN AD HOC GROUP SET UP BY THE UNOFFICIALS TO COMMENT ON SOME ASPECTS OF THE BILL.
FIRSTLY, HE SAID, IT WAS HOPED THAT THE PLANNING FOR THE NEW AUTHORITY WOULD INCLUDE SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS TO AVOID INTERRUPTION IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF VARIOUS EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS AT PRESENT RUN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
SECONDLY, MR. WU CONTINUED, THE UNOFFICIALS TRUSTED THAT THE VALUABLE ASSISTANCE GIVEN FOR MANY YEARS BY STAFF OF THE UNIVERSITIES, OTHER INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS SOME INDIVIDUALS, WOULD CONTINUE AFTER THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR RUNNING THE EXAMINATIONS HAD BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY.
F
THIRDLY, MR. WU SAID IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO SEEK OVERSEAS RECOGNITION OF THE EXAMINATIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE AUTHORITY AND IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO DELAY IN OBTAINING THIS.
+FOURTHLY, NO ONE WISHES TO SEE THE EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY TURN INTO A BUREAUCRATIC TOP-HEAVY MACHINE EMPLOYING TOO MANY SENIOR STAFF AND DUPLICATING SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
+ IN THIS RESPECT, THE MONITORING FUNCTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT BE OVER-EMPHASISED,+ HE SAID.
MR. WU SAID HE WAS SURE THE PUBLIC WOULD BE PLEASED TO SEE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS AS WELL AS NON-GOVERNMENT EDUCATIONAL ISTS AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORITY.
+ THE PRESENCE OF OUTSIDE REPRESENTATIVES WILL, I HOPE ENCOURAGE THE AUTHORITY TO BEAR IN MIND THE NEED FOR A FLEXIBLE APPROACH, HE ADDED.
/REV. THE HON.