WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1981
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NEED FOR MORE TECHNICIANS STRESSED
****
HONG KONG'S OUTPUT OF TECHNICIANS, HIGHER TECHNICIANS AND GRADUATES HAD TO BE INCREASED, AND THIS MATTER WOULD BE GIVEN VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW POST-SECONDARY AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION WILL SHORTLY BE CONSIDERED BY THE PANEL CONDUCTING THE OVERALL REVIEW OF EDUCATION, HE SAID.
AFTER THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL DRAFT A PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS WHOLE AREA.
SIR MURRAY SAID ALSO THAT AS AN INTERIM MEASURE THE GOVERNMENT HAD INCREASED THE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE AT THE UNIVERSITIES FROM THREE TO FOUR PER CENT.
SIR MURRAY ALSO DISCLOSED PLANS TO CREATE A STATUTORY VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WHICH WILL HAVE EXECUTIVE AS WELL AS ADVISORY POWERS FOR THE PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
+ BOTH TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING SCHEMES WILL COME WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE COUNCIL, WHICH WILL HAVE ITS OWN DEPARTMENT TO SERVE AS ITS EXECUTIVE ARM, HE SAID.
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITIES WILL MAINTAIN THEIR CURRENT FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS AND ALSO EXPAND THEIR ACTIVITIES.
MEANTIME, THE GOVERNMENT IS IMPROVING THE POSITION BY MAKING BETTER USE OF SOME EXISTING INSTITUTIONS.
+WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE GOVERNORS OF THE BAPTIST COLLEGE A BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED THIS SESSION TO MAKE BETTER ARRANGEMENTS FOR ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, SIR MURRAY SAID.
HE WAS ACUTELY AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE 15 000 TO 20 000 HONG KONG STUDENTS IN OVERSEAS UNIVERSITIES PARTICULARLY IN BRITAIN, WHO RECENTLY FACED SEVERE INCREASES IN TUITION FEES, AND THE LOAN SCHEME FOR HONG KONG STUDENTS IN BRITAIN, BROUGHT INTO EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, SHOULD BE OF SOME HELP.
BUT THE LOCAL EDUCATION SYSTEM SHOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE FURTHER DEVELOPED SO AS TO REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON OVERSEAS PLACES,
HE SAID.
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