XN000022-1977-04-07 — Page 2

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1977

HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY TO BE SET UP

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THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS DECIDED THAT AN EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY, CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CONDUCTING EXAMINATIONS IN HONG KONG, SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION.

IT WILL BE KNOWN AS THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY. THE ORGANISATION WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE THREE EXISTING MAJOR SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS - THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION, THE MATRICULATION EXAMINATION OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, AND THE 'A' LEVEL EXAMINATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG - TOGETHER WITH ANY OTHER SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS THAT MAY BE INTRODUCED SUBSEQUENTLY, AS WELL AS THE EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS. (THE AUTHORITY MAY FIND IT APPROPRIATE TO CHANGE THE NAMES OF THE LOCAL EXAMINATIONS).

THE GOVERNOR IS TO APPOINT THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AS THE FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE AUTHORITY, TO PRESIDE OVER THE TRANSITIONAL STAGE OF THREE YEARS. SINCE THE AUTHORITY WILL BE DEPENDENT ON THE CO-OPERATION OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, IT IS CONSIDERED NECESSARY FOR THE FIRST CHAIRMAN TO BE AN OFFICIAL. THEREAFTER ANY MEMBER OF THE AUTHORITY, OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL, COULD BE APPOINTED CHAIRMAN.

THERE WILL BE FIVE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS AND BETWEEN 17 AND 20 OTHER MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. THE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS WILL BE THE VICE-CHANCELLORS OF THE TWO UNIVERSITIES (OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES), THE DIRECTOR OF POLYTECHNIC (OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE), THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE) AND THE SECRETARY TO THE AUTHORITY.

AMONG THE APPOINTED MEMBERS THERE WILL BE THREE OTHER OFFICERS FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, ONE OF WHOM WILL BE THE PRINCIPAL OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH UNIVERSITY SENATE AND FROM THE POLYTECHNIC BOARD OF GOVERNORS.

THE REMAINING APPOINTED MEMBERS WILL BE DRAWN FROM SCHOOLS, COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, AND POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES, AND FROM COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORITY WILL BE APPOINTED FOR RENEWABLE TERMS NOT EXCEEDING THREE YEARS. THE INITIAL APPOINTEES WILL THEREFORE HOLD OFFICE FOR THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD OF THREE YEARS DURING WHICH THE AUTHORITY WILL ASSUME ITS FULL RANGE OF RESPONSIBILITIES.

/APPOINTMENT