XN000022-1975-01-15 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1975.

MISUNDERSTANDINGS OVER POLYTECHNIC DIPLOMAS CLARIFIED * * * * * *

THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR. ALAN SCOTT, TODAY CLARIFIED A REPORTED MISUNDERSTANDING OVER THE GOVERNMENT'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC'S HIGHER DIPLOMA FOR POSTS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE.

COMMENTING ON REPORTS THAT THERE HAD BEEN A REDUCTION IN THE VALUE OF THE QUALIFICATIONS AS APPLIED TO GOVERNMENT POSTS, MR. SCOTT SAID THAT THIS WAS SIMPLY NOT CORRECT+.

IN FACT, HE ADDED, THE POSITION HAS NOT CHANGED. THE LONG- STANDING PRACTICE OF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO ACCEPT THE POLYTECHNIC HIGHER DIPLOMA AS THE EQUIVALENT OF 'A' LEVELS FOR ENTRY TO NON-TECHNICAL POSTS IN THE GOVERNMENT.

MR. SCOTT SAID THIS PRACTICE WAS INTENDED TO GIVE FORMER POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT JOBS OVER AS WIDE A RANGE AS POSSIBLE.

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IN NO WAY REFERS TO THE ACCEPTABILITY OF THE POLYTECHNIC HIGHER DIPLOMA FOR TECHNICAL POSTS WHICH IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE ISSUE AND IS GOVERNED BY THE RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL BODIES, HE SAID.

MR. SCOTT ADDED THAT THE EXTENT OF THIS RECOGNITION IS KEPT UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW BY THE POLYTECHNIC AUTHORITIES WHO ARE IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

HOWEVER HE EMPHASISED THAT APPROPRIATE OFFICERS OF THE SECRETARIAT WOULD CONTINUE TO LIAISE WITH THE POLYTECHNIC CONCERNING ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS FOR GOVERNMENT POSTS AND THE INTERESTS OF THE STUDENTS WILL NATURALLY BE CAREFULLY KEPT UNDER REVIEW+.

MR. SCOTT SAID A LETTER OUTLINING THE POSITION HAD BEEN SENT TO THE POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS' UNION AND THE POLYTECHNIC AUTHORITIES. HE EMPHASISED THAT THE RELATIVITY OF POLYTECHNIC DIPLOMAS AND UNIVERSITY DEGREES, WHICH HAD ALSO BEEN THE SUBJECT OF RECENT REPORTS, WAS AN ENTIRELY SEPARATE MATTER.

HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS LATTER ASPECT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A PETITION WHICH HAD JUST BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE STUDENTS OF THE POLYTECHNIC.

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