XN000022-1973-03-14 — Page 22

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Wednesday, March 14, 1973

"I believe the cost per student in our universities is among

the highest in Asia," he said.

While he appreciated the efforts of the universities to contain

costs, he felt that "a sustained effort should be made to stretch the

grant from Government so that it covers more ground."

More opportunities for higher education could be made available

to young people in Hong Kong at a lower cost per student, he added, by maximising the use of the facilities and resources of the two universities.

He expressed the hope that the Government and the Grants Committee

would encourage the universities in this so that they could produce the right type, number and quality of graduates at a cost that the community

could afford.

Lantau Island

Mr. Browne also urged the Government to consider taking "a new

look" at the future of Lantau Island to see if it could and should be

developed to provide for housing, industry and recreation.

He felt that if Lantau was to be opened up, the key would be improved communications, a proper road system, a vehicular ferry service and, in due course, a tunnel or bridge over Ma Wan Island to link Lantau

with Castle Peak Road.

He stressed that the proposed tunnel or bridge should be available

by about 1977.

The scheme, he added, was worthy of serious study as a means of relieving congestion in Kowloon and the New Territories.

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