TNAG-0176-FCO40-212-Brief-on-communist-controlled-schools-for-Lord-Shepherd-s-vi-1969 — Page 43

Flag A

SECRET CONFIDENTIAL

Communist Schools

11. Communist schools in Hong Kong have a total enrolment

of approximately 25,500 which represents little more than

2% of the entire school enrolment. However, Communist

schools are increasing in numbers; they are not easy to

deal with and they provide for a high level of political in Lantion. indoctrination. This whole subject was discussed with the

Governor in October 1968. The Governor then mentioned

certain measures which he had under consideration for

dealing with the problem. These included the opening of

additional Government schools in areas where gaps existed

which might otherwise be exploited by new Communist schools;

tightening up the Education Ordinance; the refusal of appli-

cations by Communist schools for permission to operate night

primary schools on the grounds that the adult education

section of the Department can now meet the need for this kind

of education; and tightening up the criteria applied to school

premises before registration is permitted. It was agreed that

the Governor should continue to pursue the measures that he had

put forward, consulting us at appropriate stages and giving us

advance information of the application of any of the measures.

Yu Hua School

12.

The Communist Chung Wah Middle School was de-registered

in August 1968 as a result of the active participation of

certain of its staff and pupils in the 1967 disturbances.

Authority has since been given for a new Communist middle

school (the Yu Hua School) to be opened in the same premises

but with different staff. The Headmaster (Wong Cho Fan) of

the former Chung Wah School is also the owner of the premises

and the Governor reported on 26 April that Wong had been paying

-

- 6 SECRET CONFIDENCIAL