XN000022-1982-11-11 — Page 14

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1982

IMPORTANCE OF UPGC STRESSED

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THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE PROVIDES THE ORGANISATIONAL MEANS TO ACHIEVE TWO DISPARATE ENDS, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION, THE HON K.W.J. TOPLEY, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.

THE TWO ENDS ARE THE COMMUNITY'S DESIRE FOR GOOD TERTIATRY INSTITUTIONS WITH ADEQUATE FREEDOM TO GET ON WITH THEIR WORK, AND THE GOVERNMENT'S STRONG DISAPPROVAL OF WASTE OR MISAPPLICATION OF MONEY, MR TOPLEY SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT AS INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION ARE EXTREMELY COMPLEX, THE GOVERNMENT MUST RELY CONSIDERABLY ON THE UPGC FOR ADVICE ABOUT THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM AND APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN IT.

THIS COMMITTEE, WHICH PROVIDES EXPERT AND IMPARTIAL ADVICE, IS WITHOUT EXECUTIVE POWERS, AND CONSISTS OF DISTINGUISHED LOCAL MEMBERS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND OF OVERSEAS ACADEMIC MEMBERS FROM BRITAIN, AUSTRALIA AND CANADA, HE SAID.

+THE COMMITTEE GIVES INTENSIVE STUDY TO UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS AND REVIEWS THE NEED FOR DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION AS NECESSARY,+ MR TOPLEY ADDED.

HE SAID THAT CRITICISMS THAT THE COMMITTEE WAS BULKING TOO LARGE+ IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS AND WAS BEING TOO HEAVILY WEIGHTED WITH OVERSEAS MEMBERS WERE +WIDE OF THE MARK+.

+THE UPGC DOES LOOK CAREFULLY AT WHAT THE INSTITUTIONS PROPOSE BUT DOES NOT INVOLVE ITSELF IN THE INSTITUTIONS' OWN GOVERNANCE.

+THE UPGC ASSESSES BLOCK GRANTS BUT DOES NOT APPROVE OR EVEN SEE DETAILED FINAL BUDGETS, MUCH LESS INTERFERE IN TEACHING, + MR TOPLEY POINTED OUT.

THE OVERSEAS MEMBERS BRING GREAT EXPERTISE TO HONG KONG AND PROVIDE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE AND IMPARTIALITY, HE SAID.

WHILE CONCEDING THERE IS NO WAY OF +PROVING BEYOND DOUBT+ WHAT UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS NEED, MR TOPLEY SAID IT IS +INFORMED AND EXPERIENCED JUDGEMENT+ WHICH THE UPGC PROVIDES.

IN EXPRESSING GRATITUDE TO DR THE HON HENRY HU'S REMARKS ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECOND POLYTECHNIC, MR TOPLEY SAID A SITE OF 12.2 HECTARES ON TAT CHEE AVENUE HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR IT. THE SITE IS VERY WELL PLACED, CLOSE BY A MAJOR TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE, AND CONVENIENT FOR STUDENTS FROM ALL PARTS OF THE TERRITORY.

MR TOPLEY SAID ALSO: +WE ARE BRINGING OUR MINDS TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR, AND THE APPROPRIATE CHARACTERISTICS OF, A THIRD TERTIARY INSTITUTION AT UNIVERSITY LEVEL AND AN OPEN UNIVERSITY.+

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