XN000022-1978-03-28 — Page 3

TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 1978

THERE WERE ALREADY 12 PROJECTS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME COSTING MORE THAN $240 MILLION, THE PRINCIPAL OF WHICH WERE DOUBLE-TRACKING ALL 34 KILOMETRES OF SINGLE LINE TRACK FROM HUNG HOM TO LO WU INCLUDING A NEW DOUBLE-TRACKED BEACON HILL TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION OF A MARSHALLING YARD AT LO WU- AND A LOOP LINE AND STATION TO SERVICE THE NEW RACECOURSE AT SHA TIN.

HE SAID THE CONSULTANTS HAD BEEN ENGAGED TO CONSIDER FURTHER MODERNISATION BECAUSE, IN SPITE OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS, THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE EXISTING TRACTION SYSTEM AND ROLLING STOCK MIGHT NOT BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE FUTURE ROLE ENVISAGED FOR THE KCR AS A MODERN, MULTI-FUNCTIONAL RAILWAY PLAYING AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN HONG KONG'S OVERALL TRANSPORT REQUIREMENTS.

ROLE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

***

TECHNICAL EDUCATION IS A MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF EDUCATION AS A WHOLE, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, MR. TOPLEY SAID THE MODERN SYSTEM OF EDUCATION GRADUALLY EVOLVED RATHER THAN ANALYTICALLY DESIGNED. IT WAS NECESSARY TO CONTINUOUSLY ADJUST THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND CURRICULUM TO PRESENT NEEDS, HE ADDED.

MR. TOPLEY SAID TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN ITS BROADEST SENSE COULD BE CONCEIVED AS A FULL EDUCATION, DESIGNED FOR SOMEONE ENTERING INDUSTRY. MORE SPECIFICALLY, IT COULD BE VIEWED AS THE TEACHING OF TECHNICAL SUBJECTS MAINLY WITH A VIEW TO AN INDUSTRIAL VOCATION.

+BUT TECHNICAL EDUCATION CAN ALSO BE CONCEIVED AS EDUCATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND IN THIS FORM IT IS A PART OF EDUCATION

HE SAID.

VALUABLE FOR EVERYONE.

/MR. TOPLEY