XN000022-1978-03-07 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1978

GREEN PAPER PROPOSALS ON EDUCATION ARE CONSTRUCTIVE, SAYS TOPLEY ******

THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, SAID TODAY THAT ALTHOUGH THE FORMAL TIME LIMIT WAS THE END OF FEBRUARY FOR SENDING IN COMMENTS ON THE GREEN PAPER ON SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, LETTERS WERE STILL COMING IN.

SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG, MR. TOPLEY SAID THERE HAD BEEN ALREADY ABOUT 100 FORMAL WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS.

APART FROM DIRECT COMMENTS SENT TO THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES THERE HAD BEEN A STRONG REACTION TO THE GREEN PAPER, PARTICULARLY IN CERTAIN QUARTERS, HE NOTED.

MR. TOPLEY POINTED OUT THAT WHEN THE GREEN PAPER WAS LAUNCHED, AFTER CAREFUL PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT OF PRIORITIES, THE GOVERNMENT HAD HOPED THAT SOMEONE WOULD READ IT AS A WHOLE,+ AND PUT FORWARD NEW ILLUMINATING FACTS, BETTER IDEAS.

+WELL, WE ARE GOING THROUGH NOW THE ASSEMBLED COMMENTS LOOKING FOR JUST THAT, HE SAID.

+ I HAVE BEEN READING SOME OF THE FORMAL WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THE GREEN PAPER AND ALSO RE-READ THE GREEN PAPER ITSELF. I MUST SAY WITHOUT ANY SHAME OR EMBARRASSMENT. A GREAT DEAL OF IT HAS NOT FIGURED IN THE DEBATE SO FAR. THE DEBATE HAS SETTLED ON ONE OR TWO ISSUES IMPORTANT IN THEMSELVES BUT NOT CENTRAL TO THE ACTUAL GREEN PAPER NOR, I BELIEVE, FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG EDUCATION.

+PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER ARE, I BELIEVE, CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSALS AND INTENDED TO LEAD TO CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGE AND EVEN CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGE USUALLY CREATES PROBLEMS FOR SOMEONE.

+THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION, HE SAID, +BUT THAT WHICH HAS BEEN MOST IN PUBLIC VIEW HAVE BEEN DOGMATIC AND SOMETIMES DRAMATIC REACTIONS, BURNING OF THE GREEN PAPER AND SO ON.

+WE HAD HOPED THAT THE DEBATE OF THE ISSUES OF THE GREEN PAPER WOULD BE ITSELF EDUCATIONAL.

+IN ADDITION, THE CONCENTRATION ON CERTAIN ISSUES, NOTABLY THE LENGTH OF THE COURSE OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY AND THE STATUS OF THE BAPTIST COLLEGE, HAS DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OTHER ISSUES MORE OR EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND FROM WHAT THE GREEN PAPER WAS TRYING TO DO, MR. TOPLEY SAID.

J

THE IDEA OF A GREEN PAPER AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOW ISSUED EIGHT GREEN PAPERS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS -- IS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION BEFORE GOVERNMENT POLICY IS FORMED AND FINALISED, THE DIRECTOR POINTED OUT.

/+FREEN PAPERS,