Reference...
Note for File
Attached below (36) is a copy of the brief on education prepared for Sir Leslie Monson's recent visit to Hong Kong. In the margin, relating to the matter of the Polytechnic he has recorded:
"Director of Education told me there was a dispute between himself and other members of the Committee as to whether the new Polytechnic should be under the control of an independent body or the Department of Education. He considered that independent control was appropriate only to a body of University status and there was no capacity in Hong Kong at the moment for such an institution."
2.
It is worth noting that P. Y. Tang, at the meeting with TETOC, was very insistent that Government control should be minimised (see my minute of 10 September, 1969 at (27)). Bailey, Secretary of the UGC, stressed in a subsequent private conversation that he agreed with Tang to the extent that the Education Department should be excluded as much as possible from the Poly- technic. Bailey did, however, believe that there should be some governmental influence, but that the principle of academic independence should be upheld. He evidently intends to retain his personal influence as Secretary of the Polytechnic Planning Committee, and thereby to retain the influence of the UGC on the Polytechnic.
Hong Kong Dept.
(I. R. Murray)
2 Dec. '69
PA please.
8/2/12/69.
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