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Governor: I think that all of us are acutely aware of the importance of providing enough places at international schools in Hong Kong because it is after all an international city. There are two phenomena that we have to deal with. The first is Hong Kongers returning to Hong Kong, having been educating their children in Canada or United States or Europe, all wanting a similar sort of education to continue. Secondly, with a growing international business community, increasingly, managers or bankers who are posted here want to bring their families, all want to be able to educate their children in a Korean or a Japaneseor a French or an English school. I've been involved in a number of international schools as well as the local ones. German, Swiss, the Korean which I opened. I've
ve been discussing recently
recently with the Canadians. Then, theAmerican Chamber of Commerce has talked to me about it. For I think everyone recognises the need and I think the ESF is responding to it like others and they are helping out parents like me. I think that it is probably the case that all of us've under-estimated, in particular, the need for places at primary level. That is where the biggest problems so far have been. But they are obviously going to move on into the secondary level as their children get older. We've just got to make sure that we cope adequately. I was talking to the Chief Secretary and the Secretary for Education and Manpower about this problem this morning. We are doing a study at the moment of the requirement for places and we have to meet it as well as we can. This is a wonderful school and I think all the children who are here, are very lucky.
Question: But, do you think that the drug abuse problem is more serious in international schools? Are you worried about your daughter?
Governor: No, I think that drug abuse is a problem which is faced right across the community. As I was saying the other day, one of the things we have to face up to in Hong Kong is even though we don't have some of the social problems which are commonly associated with drug abuse by young people, for example, high youth unemployment. We don't have that in Hong Kong. Even though we don't have those problems, we've still got increasing figures for drug abuse. And that is why we've got to do much more in every school and to get across education about the perils of taking drug but it is a problem which every school faces.
Question: So, would you like to say a word about your Vietnamese trip?
Governor: I'll be, as I said before, I am prepared to answer questions about ESF schools and international schools. But I am answering questions in the Legislative Council tomorrow and I dare say Vietnam will come up.
end/Wednesday, December 7, 1994