XN000022-1994-06-08 — Page 20

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1994

WORKED

IN

THE COMMITTEE HAS SERVED HONG KONG WELL. MEMBERS HAVE VERY HARD OVER THE PAST YEARS TO DELIVER THE AMBITIOUS TARGETS IN THE PROVISION OF TERTIARY EDUCATION PLACES, BUT NEVER LETTING

THEIR JNSISTENCE ON MAINTAINING THE QUALITY OF THE INSTITUTIONS AT AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTABLE STANDARD. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN FORWARD

AND LOOKING

LATEST VISIONARY, AS EVIDENCED IN THEIR

INITIATIVE POINTING THE WAY FORWARD FOR THEIR INSTITUTIONS THROUGH THE CENTRES EXCELLENCE" PROPOSAL. THEY HAVE EVEN INITIATED A MAJOR REVIEW ON THEIR OWN MISSION, THROUGH THE PUBLICATION OF A DRAFT MISSION STATEMENT WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE EVOLVING ROLE OF HONG KONG AS A BUSINESS HUB OF SOUTH CHINA AND AS A LEADING FINANCIAL AND SERVICE CENTRE. THE DRAFT MISSION STATEMENT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN THEIR INTERIM REPORT ON HIGHER EDUCATION. MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO COMMENT ON THE FUTURE ROLE OF THE UPGC.

OF

ON THE PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION, WE ALSO KEEP AN OPEN MIND IN THIS AREA. WE DO FEEL STRONGLY THAT ACADEMIC INDEPENDENCE IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS. THEY MUST CONTINUE TO BK GIVEN UNFETTERED INSTITUTIONAL AUTONOMY IN CONTROLLING THEIR CURRICULA AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES, AS WELL AS IN MANAGING THEIR OWN STAFF AND RESOURCES. TO AVOID THE UNDESIRABLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ADMINISTRATION HAVING A DIRECT INFLUENCE ON THE INSTITUTIONS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO REQUIRE AN IMPARTIAL AND CREDIBLE MECHANISM TO ACT AS THE NECESSARY BUFFER. THE PHILOSOPHY OF THIS INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN HAS LONG BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE INSTITUTIONS. WE SHOULD NOT THEREFORE ALTER THIS DESIGN LIGHTLY, UNLESS THERE ARE OVER-RIDING ARGUMENTS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

OTHER THAN THIS FUNDAMENTAL POINT, THE ADMINISTRATION IS OPEN TO CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON HOW THE COMPOSITION, STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE UPGC MAY BE FURTHER IMPROVED то COPE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

THE FINAL PART OF TODAY'S MOTION CONCERNS GOVERNMENT'S PRESENT POLICY ON TERTIARY TUITION FEES AND STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. MEMBERS ARE AWARE OF THE BACKGROUND AND THE POLICY. SO I SHALL NOT REPEAT' THEM. I WOULD, HOWEVER, LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT TWO POINTS ΤΟ PUT THE DEBATE IN ITS PROPER CONTEXT.

FIRST, THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE IS WHAT SHOULD CONSTITUTE A FAIR SHARE OF THE COST BURDEN BETWEEN TAXPAYERS AND PARENTS IN EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN. THE GOVERNMENT'S PHILOSOPHY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT, FOR THE ESSENTIAL AND NECESSARY PORTION OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, THAT IS, THE NINE YEARS OF BASIC EDUCATION BETWEEN PRIMARY ONE AND SECONDARY THREE, GOVERNMENT SHOULD BEAR THE FULL

COST, IN RETURN FOR AN OBLIGATION ON THE PART OF PARENTS TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOLS. BEYOND THAT, GOVERNMENT WILL SEEK TO RECUPERATE A REASONABLE PERCENTAGE OF THE EDUCATION COST FROM THOSE PARENTS WHO CAN AFFORD IT. AT A COST RECOVERY RATE OF 18% UNDER THE PRESENT POLICY FOR SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY PLACES, GOVERNMENT IS EFFECTIVELY SHOULDERING THE BULK OF THE COST FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS. BUT FOR THOSE WHOSE FAMILIES WHO CAN AFFORD IT, WE ASK THAT THEY PAY A SMALL PART OF THE COST.

/A FEW

Page 20Page 21