XN000022-1976-11-10 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1976

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NEED TO EXAMINE DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNICAL EDUCA ION

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BOTH THE PACE AND THE DIRECTION OF DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT THE POST-SECONDARY LEVEL MUST BE CRITICALLY EXAMINED, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. F.K. LI, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON A MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OPENING ADDRESS, MR. LI SAID PART OF THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE A NEED FOR IMPROVED CO-ORDINATION, THOUGH THERE WAS ALREADY MACHINERY FOR LIAISON BETWEEN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND THE POLYTECHNIC IN PLANNING COURSE PROVISION.

THE GOVERNMENT WAS, HOWEVER, KEEPING IN MIND THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR A BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION, TOGETHER WITH OTHER ALTERNATIVES, HE SAID.

HE SAID THE GROWTH OF VARIOUS TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS WOULD PRODUCE SUFFICIENT NUMBERS OF CRAFTSMEN, TECHNICIANS AND TECHNOLOGISTS, AS WELL AS THOSE QUALIFIED ON BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL COURSES, TO OVERCOME ANY MARKED DEFICIENCY OF SUCH QUALIFIED MANPOWER.

+THESE EXPANDED RESOURCES OF HIGHLY-SK ILLED LABOUR SHOULD IMPROVE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR INDUSTRIES AND SHOULD HELP US IN OUR EFFORTS TO ATTRACT NEW INDUSTRIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ARE TECHNOLOGICALLY-BASED, HE ADDED.

MR. LI POINTED OUT THAT A PERIOD OF CONSOLIDATION WAS NOW NECESSARY, PARTICULARLY IN RESPECT OF THE FUTURE GROWTH OF THE POLYTECHNIC.

+OVER THE THREE YEAR PERIOD 1978 TO 1981, THE POLYTECHNIC WILL EXPAND ITS STUDENT NUMBERS AT ROUGHLY FIVE PER CENT ANNUALLY, + HE SAID. +WHEN CONSIDERING WHETHER TO PROVIDE FOR ANY FURTHER EXPANSION OF CAPACITY, WE SHALL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EFFECT OF THE PRESENT EXPANSION PROGRAMME UPON OUR MANPOWER NEEDS.+

HE AGREED WITH THE HON. $.L. CHEN AND THE HON. MISS LYD I A DUNN THAT THE GROWTH OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS MUST BE SET AT A PACE +THAT WILL BOTH ENSURE THAT THE GROWTH OF OUR ECONOMY WILL NOT BE HINDERED BY A SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED MANPOWER AND ALSO THAT THE GRADUATES WILL HAVE A REASONABLE PROSPECT OF FINDING SUITABLE EMPLOYMENT IN THE INDUSTRY FOR WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINED+.

THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL, HE SAID, CONDUCTED PERIODIC SURVEYS TO MEASURE FUTURE MANPOWER DEMAND FOR TECHNICALLY-TRAINED PERSONNEL IN THE MAIN INDUSTRIES, AND THE FINDINGS OF THESE SURVEYS INFLUENCED THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANT COMMITTEE WHEN PLANNING FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS.

HE EXPRESSED