FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1984
6
+CONTINUITY IN EDUCATION VITAL+
*****
A HIGH DEGREE OF CONTINUITY IN HONG KONG'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, CONTAINED IN A PROVISION OF THE SINO-BRITISH DRAFT AGREEMENT, IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG'S FUTURE, KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, MR GORDON JONES SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
+FOR HONG KONG'S ONLY NATURAL RESOURCES IS ITS PEOPLE AND IF THEY CANNOT CONTINUE TO RECEIVE A PROPER EDUCATION IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR HONG KONG TO CONTINUE AS THE PROSPEROUS DYNAMIC CITY STATE WHICH IT IS TODAY AND WHICH, I AM SURE, IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN THE FUTURE, HE SAID.
MR JONES WAS SPEAKING AT THE 6TH GRADUATION AND PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY OF THE YU CHUN KEUNG MEMORIAL COLLEGE THIS EVENING.
CITING THE PROVISIONS FOR EDUCATION CONTAINED IN THE DRAFT AGREEMENT, MR JONES SAID: +STUDENTS SHALL ENJOY FREEDOM OF CHOICE OF EDUCATION AND FREEDOM TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION OUTSIDE OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION.+
MR JONES URGED STUDENTS TO READ THE DOCUMENT, TO THINK ABOUT ITS CONTENTS, TO DISCUSS IT WITH FRIENDS AND TEACHERS, AND TO HOLD DEBATES.
+THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENT IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG AS IT LAYS DOWN A BLUE-PRINT FOR OUR FUTURE YOURS AND MINE,+ HE TOLD THE GATHERING.
+WHAT IS CONTAINED IN THE DRAFT AGREEMENT AND WHAT WILL BE SUBSEQUENTLY CONTAINED IN THE BASIC LAW WILL HAVE A VERY INTIMATE BEARING ON THE WAY YOU WILL LEAD YOUR FUTURE ADULT LIVES AND SHOULD THEREFORE BE OF VERY CONSIDERABLE CONCERN TO YOU HERE AND NOW,+ HE SAID.
+ IT IS A VERY REMARKABLE DOCUMENT AS IT PROVIDES FOR THE ESSENTIAL CONTINUITY OF HONG KONG'S EXISTING SYSTEMS, LIFE-STYLES AND FREEDOMS AFTER 1997 WHEN CHINA WILL RESUME SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG, HE SAID.
+THIS IS WHERE THE ROLE OF HONG KONG SCHOOLS IS SO IMPORTANT AS THROUGH STUDIES AND ACTIVITIES, BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, STUDENTS ARE BEING EDUCATED TO BECOME MATURE, THINKING AND CARING PEOPLE WITH A COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG AND ITS WAY OF LIFE,+ MR JONES SAID.
17