XN000022-1984-03-07 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1984

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THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED MR Q.W. LEE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION. MR LEE, FOR MANY YEARS AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND LATER, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS HAD VAST EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN EDUCATION THROUGH INVOLVEMENT IN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF ITS DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG.

HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FROM 1976 TO 1983, MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW POST-SECONDARY AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNIC COMPUTER CENTRE, AND ARE OF THE TWO ADVISERS TO THE PANEL OF VISITORS. CURRENTLY, HE IS CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, MEMBER OF THE COURT OF THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY POLYTECHNIC, AND VICE-CHAIRMAN AND SUPERVISOR OF THE HANG SENG SCHOOL OF COMMERCE.

IN ADDITION TO THE CHAIRMAN, TEN UNOFFICIALS ARE ON THE COMMISSION. THEY ARE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE (MR JUSTICE YANG), THE CHAIRMAN OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL (DR FRANCIS TIEN), THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (AT PRESENT THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, WHO WILL BE REPLACED BY AN UNOFFICIAL WHEN HIS TERM OF OFFICE EXPIRES ON

GRANTS COMMITTEE (MR JUSTICE YANG)

JUNE 30, INITIALLY THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, DR DANIEL LAM, WILL BE INVITED), THREE PERSONS OF HIGH STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY, AND FOUR EDUCATORS.

THESE OTHER APPOINTMENTS BY THE GOVERNOR WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON, AFTER CONSULTATION AND THE COMPLETION OF FORMALITIES.

THREE SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ALSO SIT ON THE COMMISSION. THEY ARE THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, WHO ALSO SERVES AS VICE-CHAIRMAN, THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, AND THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.

THE COMMISSION WILL BE SERVICED BY THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, WHICH WILL BE STRENGTHENED TO IMPROVE ITS CAPABILITIES IN PROVIDING RESEARCH, PLANNING, AND STATISTICAL SUPPORT.

COMMENTING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT IT WOULD FIT INTO THE NORMAL CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK AND IT WOULD NOT IN ANY WAY DEROGATE FROM THE STANDING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE UPGC AND VTC, OR THE AUTONOMY OF THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.

ITS MEMBERSHIP IS IN LINE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE PANEL OF VISITORS, WITH THE REINFORCEMENT OF EDUCATORS, WHICH WAS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ENDORSED BY PUBLIC COMMENTS.

IT IS TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNOR WITH CONSOLIDATED ADVICE ON THE NEEDS OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE, THE IR PRIORITIES, AND THE MOST EQUITABLE AND PRACTICABLE RESPONSES TO THEM.

THE COMMISSION