XN000022-1972-10-18 — Page 7

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Wednesday, October 18, 1972

"Amongst other things, it would be valuable to have its advice on

the speed at which it is practicable to plan to achieve this target.

"Connected with this is the extent to which they consider bisessionalism

appropriate as a permanent or interim measure. I might add that it is the view

of the Government that an element of bisessionalism is essential if rapid

progress is to be made," he said.

Their view would also be valuable on the extent to which it is

necessary to expand assisted places to all in the 12-14 year age group, he

added.

On tertiary education, Sir Murray said its demand in Hong Kong far

outstrips existing facilities, and steps to increase these have been taken.

He said plans are now in hand to raise the number of university places

from 6,000 in 1974 to 8,400 by 1978.

"This total is unlikely to be sufficient for our needs beyond the

late 1708 and in the '80s, and we are therefore already considering ways in which

university education in Hong Kong can be further extended."

However, he said, the major expansion in tertiary education will be

achieved by the new Polytechnic, and he had every hope that it would achieve

its target of 8,000 full-time and 20,000 part-time students by 1978.

Together with the expansion of the universities, this will mean that

by 1978, tertiary education facilities in Hong Kong will have been at least

trebled, he said.

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