XN000022-1974-03-27 — Page 41

Wednesday, March 27, 1974

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He then referred to Mr. Wilson Wang's request that urgent attention

be given to alleviating the anxiety facing parents of children in Primary

6 over the future prospects of their children's education after this summer;

and Mr. Wang's argument for maximising the usage of present facilities

so as to achieve the highest enrolment possible within existing facilities.

In reply, Mr. Canning said: "I do not wish to comment too closely

on this suggestion or indeed other suggestions that have been made on the

Green Paper on education.

"It would not be proper to do so, as I may be accused of pre-empting

the discussions on the paper I shall shortly be presenting to the Board of

Education."

As far as this year is concerned, the Director said, "there are

difficulties in the way of formulating new policies regarding entry to

secondary schools to be implemented from September."

But he emphasised that plans for the expansion of secondary education

up to 1976 in accordance with existing policy will, in any event, take place.

Pointing out that secondary expansion is at the cross-roads, Mr.

Canning said that it would be imprudent to turn in any one particular direction

without a careful examination of the long-term effects on our children's

futuro.

11This examination is being carried out as fast as possible but many

factors, not the least where the qualified teachers or where the money to

finance the massive expansion would come from, have to be taken into account."

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