XN000022-1991-04-17 — Page 33

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1991

HE NOTED THAT THE POINTS RAISED ON TERTIARY EDUCATION HAD FOCUSED, FIRST, ON THE FUNDING OF THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS AND, SECONDLY, ON THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATION THEY PROVIDED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT ONE MEMBER HAD ARGUED THAT BY IMPOSING A CASH LIMIT ON EXPENDITURE FOR THE TERTIARY SECTOR AT THE OUTSET, THE GOVERNMENT SEVERELY LIMITED THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE (UPGC) AND FAILED TO MAKE FULL USE OF THE EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE OF ITS MEMBERS.

"I MUST TAKE ISSUE WITH THIS ARGUMENT,

HE SAID.

THE EXISTING PROCEDURES WORKED WELL, PRECISELY BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT STARTED OFF BY SEEKING THE ADVICE OF THE UPGC ON THE LEVEL OF PROVISION REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE APPROVED TARGETS AND STANDARDS.

MR YEUNG EXPLAINED THAT AFTER TELLING THE GOVERNMENT WHAT IT CONSIDERED THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS REQUIRED, THE UPGO'S REQUEST WAS CONSIDERED IN THE WIDER CONTEXT OF COMPETING DEMANDS FOR RESOURCES.

"IT IS ONLY THEN THAT WE INDICATE A PROVISIONAL CASH LIMIT AND CONSULT THE UPGC ON WHETHER OUR AIMS CAN BE ACHIEVED WITHIN THAT LIMIT.

OUR

"IN THE EVENT, AFTER CAREFUL DELIBERATION, THE UPGC CONFIRMED THAT THE CASH LIMIT FOR 1991-92, ALTHOUGH NOT IDEAL, WOULD ENABLE AIMS TO BE MET IN RESPECT OF BOTH QUANTITY AND QUALITY, HE ADDED.

MR YEUNG SAID DESPITE THE VARIOUS REFERENCES TO "CUTS" "REDUCTIONS" BY SEVERAL LEGCO MEMBERS, THE PROVISION SOUGHT IN DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR RECURRENT GRANTS ALLOWED FOR SOME INCREASES UNIT COSTS PER PLACE AT ALL THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.

AND THE LARGER DEGREE-AWARDING INSTITUTIONS WOULD RECEIVE RECURRENT GRANTS BETWEEN 87 PER CENT AND 99 PER CENT OF WHAT THEY ASKED FOR, HE CONTINUED.

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LOOKING BEYOND 1991-92 INTO THE CRITICAL TRIENNIUM AHEAD, YEUNG SAID THE BUDGETARY SITUATION WOULD REMAIN TIGHT AND AS MEMBER QUITE RIGHTLY POINTED OUT THAT WE COULD EXPECT A CERTAIN DEGREE OF BELT-TIGHTENING.

"BUT WE WOULD NOT WISH THIS TO BE DONE AT THE EXPENSE OF QUALITY. WE HAVE ALREADY MADE A SIGNIFICANT START BY ESTABLISHING THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONDUCTING DEGREE VALIDATION AND REVIEWS OF THE NON-UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONS.

"WE ALSO RECOGNISED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT THE INSTITUTIONS ABLE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN GOOD QUALITY ACADEMIC STAFF, IF THEY ARE TO MAINTAIN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED STANDARDS.

ARE

"ΤΟ THIS END, WE WILL BE PROPOSING TO FINANCE COMMITTEE A DOUBLING OF THE PROVISION SOUGHT IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR RESEARCH GRANTS, HE SAID.

"

/RESPONDING TO