XN000022-1978-01-05 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1978

GOVERNOR OPENS HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION WAS VITAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES IN ARMING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH +NEWFOUND SKILLS AND NEWFOUND CONFIDENCE IN THEIR PRACTICAL ABILITY+.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IN CHEUNG SHA WAN, THE FOURTH TO BE OPERATED BY THE GOVERNMENT, SIR MURRAY SAID THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES HAD A VERY IMPORTANT AND SATISFYING PART TO PLAY IN OUR EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM AND THEIR FIRST AIM WAS TO PROVIDE A SPECIAL FORM OF EDUCATION TO COMPLEMENT TRAINING IN INDUSTRY OR COMMERCE.

HE WAS GLAD THAT THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE IS ENCOURAGING MORE EMPLOYERS TO RELEASE YOUNG PERSONS TO ATTEND PART-TIME COURSE AT THE INSTITUTES.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.

+THIS IS THE FOURTH TECHNICAL INSTITUTE TO BE COMPLETED AND THE FIFTH WILL SOON BE BUILT AT KOWLOON TONG. THIS INSTITUTE IS NAMED AFTER MR. HAKING WONG IN RECOGNITION OF HIS MOST GENEROUS DONATION. MR. WONG HAS CHANGED HIS PRODUCT SO OFTEN THAT I THINK HE SHOULD BE CALLED +MR. DIVERSIFICATION+. I AM SURE IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT AN INDUSTRIAL IST SO NOTED FOR BOLD AND SUCCESSFUL INNOVATION SHOULD TAKE SUCH A PRACTICAL INTEREST IN THE PROMOTION OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION. I THANK HIM FOR HIS GENEROSITY AND FOR THE EXAMPLE HE HAS GIVEN.

+ANOTHER DONATION FOR THIS INSTITUTE HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. THIS HAS BEEN USED TO BUY VALUABLE APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT AND TO PROVIDE PART OF THE INITIAL STOCK OF LIBRARY BOOKS. AGAIN WE ARE MOST APPRECIATIVE.

+ THE FIRST AIM OF THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES IS TO PROVIDE A SPECIAL FORM OF EDUCATION TO COMPLEMENT TRAINING IN INDUSTRY OR COMMERCE. I AM GLAD THAT THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE IS ENCOURAGING MORE EMPLOYERS TO RELEASE YOUNG PERSONS TO ATTEND PART-TIME COURSE AT THE INSTITUTES. THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION IS VITAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES IN ARMING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH NEWFOUND SKILLS, AND NEWFOUND CONFIDENCE IN THEIR PRACTICAL ABILITY.

+THE INSTITUTES PLACE SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLETED NINE YEARS OF GENERAL EDUCATION, THE SPECIALISED EDUCATION AND TRAINING THEY RECEIVE IN THE INSTITUTES OFFER A BRIDGE TO ADULT WORKING LIFE, AND FOR SOME EVEN A BRIDGE TO THE POLYTECHNIC. THE INSTITUTES THEREFORE DO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AT THE SENIOR SECONDARY LEVEL. I AM CONVINCED THAT THESE INSTITUTES, AND THOSE WHICH MAY BE ADDED AS DEMAND INCREASES, HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT AND SATISFYING PART TO PLAY IN OUR EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM.

/+THE PROGRAMME