Mr Jack Woolfenden, ceutre, head of the department of textile industries at Hunghom Technical College, explains a technical point to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, Mr Herbert Bowden, left, during a tour of the college yesterday. Looking on is Mr Sung Sing-zak, Principal of the college.
Bowden Inspects
-And Asks SCMP
Questions
7-3-67
The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, the Hon Herbert Bowden, showed a keen interest in what he saw of the Colony's facilities for health and industrial training yesterday.
During his tour Mr Bowden spent more time asking searching questions than in commenting on what he saw.
Earlier, in a meeting with members of UMELCO (Unoff- cial Members of Executive and Legislative Councils), he dis- cussed, among other things, "the question of safeguarding Hong- kong's interests if and
when
Britain joins the Commun Market," according to a Govern- ment Information Services report.
After lunch at Government House, Mr Bowden toured Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He seemed impressed with the organisation and equipment of the largest and best-equipped general hos- pital in the Commonwealth. He showed special interest in the problems of the casualty and radiotherapy wards.
On his visit to the Technical College in Hunghom Mr Bow- den asked inany questions about the education given there, and whether local industrialists supported its technical training programme.
At the Tai Hing Metal and Plastic Ware Factory in San- pokong, near Kai Tak Airport, Mr Bowden watched rows of women turning out toy plastic cars, "flying saucers" and ladies' vanity sets, all for export.
►
He expressed some surprise that some of the machinery in the factory had been made in
Radio, Television Interview Tonight
Mr Bowden will give a radio and television inter- view this afternoon. It will be broadcast by the English service or Radio Hengkong at 7.15 pm, by the English service of Commercial Radio at 6.45 pm, and by the Eng- lish service of Rediffusion Television immediately after the 9 pm news.
The Chinese version of the interview will be broad- cast by Radio Ilongkong at 9 pm. by Commercial Radio's second station at 8.45 pm, and by Rediffusion Television's Chinese service after the 11 pm late night final.
the
to
Colony. He wanted know, too, about the wages and hours of work of the employees he saw.
Mr Bowden's day ended with a cocktail reception Sir David and Lady Trench at given by Government House, and a din- ner afterward at the Bank of East Asia penthouse, given by the UMELCO members he had met in the morning.
the air the Shatin New Town site, the site 1or the Chinese University at Ma Liu Shul, Plover Cove and Taipo.
Later in the morning, he will visit police headquarters in Arsenal Street, where he will
the meet
Commissioner of Police and senior police officers. In the afternoon, Mr Bowden will have discussions with the Director of Commerce and In- dustry, the Hon T. D. Sorby, and other senior officials of his Department.
This will be followed by a meeting with representatives of the Hongkong General Cham- ber of Commerce, the Federa- tion of Hongkong Industries and the Chinese Manufacturers' Association.
Mr Bowden leaves Hongkong tonight.
OPEN LETTER
FROM CIVIC
ASSOCIATION
The Hongkong Civic Associa- tion yesterday released an open Jetter to Mr Bowden in which it described his interest in visit- ing a resettlement estate man- aged by the Urban Council as "gratifying, even though the Unofficial Members of the Coun- eil had been kept in the dark about it."
The letter adds:
"We share your concern about Hongkong's economic position. should Britain join the Common Market. You have our unreserved support in your efforts to obtain associate status for Hongkong, or whatever status that is required to protect Hongkong's economic interests with the Common Market.
"We appreciate that, as Com- monwealth Secretary, you are an extremely busy official, and have no time to meet with local political parties, but only with Prime Ministers, Governors and other very high Government Officials.
'Backward'
"It is true that even though Hongkong is the largest of Bri- tain's remaining colonies, we are still the most backward in terms of political progress.
"As you are not meeting with local political Unofficial Members of the Urban parties, or the
Council, we can only communi- cate with you by way of an open letter.
"We want you to know that we are very much concerned about universal primary educa- tion in Hongkong. We will not have a subsidised place for every child
that wants it until 1971. Ever since 1950, the Hongkong Government has been promising that universal primary educa- Hongkong's major development day, there are still 60,000-80,000 tion is only five years away. To-
Today, Mr Bowden will fly to the New Territories by helicopter for an aerial
schemes.
view of some of
Mr Bowden will first visit the Lower Shingmun
dam site in Shatin.
At the chief resident сп- gineer's office, the Secretary of State will see plans, models and diagrams of the Plover Cove Water Scheme,
Mr Bowden will view
from
children of primary school age who are not in school, and who will most likely grow up into illiterates.
"There, are too, the growing frustrations and wants of our young people, who comprise half of our population. They want more technical education, more recreation facilities, and a youth employment service to help them play а useful role in society.
"On the development of local government, you will no doubt be discussing your plans with His Excellency the Governor, the Colonial Secretary, and the Appointed Members of Execu- tive and Legislative Councils.
"As Hongkong is a politically backward Colony, this may ap- pear to you to be the most ap- propriate way to deal with the matter.
"We sincerely hope that you are enjoying the guided tour of Hongkong that has been or- ganised at your request. We also hope that the Common- wealth Office will not let the people of Hongkong down in their aspirations for a higher standard of living, and more so- cial and political progress."
Teachers' 15-point Manifesto
36/E/iv
The Hongkong Teachers' Association has presented a 15-point memorandum to the visiting Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, Mr Herbert Bowden,
The memorandum calls for increased expenditure on educa- tion in the Colony, compulsory universal free education, more Chinese in senior Education Department posts, and legisla- tion to fix the minimum pay for teachers.
The Association also wants: More say in the Colony's education policy;
A teacher exchange service between Hongkong and Brilain; Official rejection - by the Government - of the new salary scales proposed in the White Paper on education:
Scrapping of the new staffing ra:lus;
Promotion chances for non- graduate local teachers;
Equality of pay for teachers in aided schools;
Increased assistance to teachers in ated private schools;
No victimisation of teachers who do voluntarily work for their trade union
The memorandum also sug- gests that private schools should employ "a proportionate number of qualified teachers, who should be given a Govern- ment subsidy or assistance in the same way as teachers in sided private schools."
Establiment of an appeals board and an employment com- miltee is also requested by memorandum, as is 铒 system whereby rates paid by private schools would be funded to assist the welfare of the teachers working in
the
these schools."
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.