Reply:
48
Mr President,
(a)
(b)
The Administration is working on the fourth draft of the English text of the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Bill. It is still our aim to introduce the Bill into the Legislative Council within the current legislative session.
The objective of the new regulatory framework is to ensure that the standards of the courses conducted by the non-local institutions of higher education and professional bodies in Hong Kong are recognised by the non- local institutions themselves and the accrediting authorities in their countries of origin, and that the standard of overseas courses delivered in Hong Kong would be monitored effectively to maintain them at a level comparable to those achieved on-campus in their countries of origin. Subject to verification of the information provided by the executive head of a local tertiary institution, those overseas courses offered in collaboration with a local tertiary institution would be exempt from registration. Registration of courses within the scope of the Bill, however, would be subject to verification of the information by the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation. Subject to further legal advice Government is also considering the inclusion of provisions to prohibit irresponsible operators or agents acting on their behalf from publishing or broadcasting false or misleading information about their
courses.
End/Wednesday, March 1, 1995
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