WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1994
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SOME MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ON THE OVERALL BALANCE IN EDUCATION SPENDING IN THE VARIOUS SECTORS. I WOULD JUST LIKE то REITERATE THE ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION BRIEFLY. WE HAVE INDEED INVESTED HEAVILY IN TERTIARY EDUCATION OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. THAT IS INEVITABLE GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NEARLY DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF FIRST-YEAR, FIRST-DEGREE PLACES. BUT THE INCREASE HAS NOT BEEN AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER SECTORS. FOR EXAMPLE, SPENDING ON SCHOOL EDUCATION, HAS ENJOYED A REAL INCREASE OF 20% BETWEEN 1989-90 AND 1994-95,
BEFORE I RESPOND TO MEMBERS' REQUEST TO REVIEW THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE UPGC, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN BRIEFLY THE HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE, THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND ITS ESTABLISHMENT, AND THE LONG-ESTABLISHED FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT, THE COMMITTEE, AND THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS FUNDED BY THE COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED AS THE UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMITTEE BACK IN 1965. IN 1972, IT WAS RETITLED THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, UPGC IN SHORT, TO REFLECT THE INCLUSION OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC WITHIN ITS PURVIEW.
IT IS BY DESIGN THAT THE UPGC SHOULD HAVE NEITHER STATUTORY NOR EXECUTIVE POWERS OVER THE INSTITUTIONS. EACH OF THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IS AN AUTONOMOUS ENTITY WITH ITS OWN ORDINANCE AND GOVERNING BODY. THE INSTITUTIONS ARE LEGALLY ENTITLED TO FREEDOM OF ACTION, WITHIN THE LAWS OF HONG KONG, IN THE CONTROL OF THEIR CURRICULA AND ACADEMIC STANDARDS; THE APPOINTMENT, MANAGEMENT AND DISCIPLINE OF THEIR OWN STAFF; THE SELECTION OF STUDENTS; AND THE INTERNAL ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES. THE CLAIM FOR AUTONOMY DOES NOT REST UPON ANY ASSUMPTION OF SPECIAL PRIVILEGES, BUT ON THE UNDERSTANDING, LONG ACCEPTED BY THE COMMUNITY, THAT TERTIARY ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS SHOULD HAVE FREEDOM OF CHOICE ON ACADEMIC MATTERS AND FREEDOM OF ACTION IN SELECTING THEIR OWN STUDENTS AND STAFF. IN SHORT, THEY SHOULD BE FREE FROM DIRECT GOVERNMENT INFLUENCE.
BUT BECAUSE THE INSTITUTIONS ARE LARGELY SUPPORTED BY PUBLIC TO THE
FUNDS, AND BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNITY, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE DO HAVE A LEGITIMATE INTEREST IN THE OPERATION OF THE INSTITUTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARD OF EDUCATION IN A COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER. THE UPGC HAS THEREFORE ACTED AS A BUFFER BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE INSTITUTIONS, SAFEGUARDING THE ACADEMIC AND MANAGEMENT AUTONOMY OF THE INSTITUTIONS ON THE ONE HAND, AND ENSURING VALUB FOR MONEY FOR TAXPAYERS ON THE OTHER.
THE KEY FUNCTION OF THE UPGC IS TO OFFER IMPARTIAL AND EXPERT ADVICE TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE APPLICATION TO INSTITUTIONS OF SUCH PUBLIC FUNDS AS MAY BE APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL FOR THE PURPOSE OF TERTIARY EDUCATION. THE COMMITTEE ALSO PROVIDES THE INSTITUTIONS WITH ACADEMIC ADVICE HAVING REGARD TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND PRACTICES, AND MONITORS THE ACADEMIC STANDARDS OF THE INSTITUTIONS THROUGH REGULAR INSTITUTIONAL REVIEWS AND ACADEMIC AUDITS.
MEMBERS OF THE UPGC ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, HAVING REGARD TO THE NEED FOR THEM TO BE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING IMPARTIAL AND CREDIBLE ADVICE TO BOTH THE INSTITUTIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT. MEMBERS ARE THEREFORE ALL PROMINENT IN THEIR OWN FIELDS, INCLUDING RENOWNED ACADEMICS FROM OVERSEAS AND LOCALLY, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS PEOPLE. THOUGH ITS SECRETARIAT IS STAFFED BY CIVIL SERVANTS, AGAIN BY DESIGN NO GOVERNMENT OFFICER SITS ON THE COMMITTEE.
/THE COMMITTEE