3
M
yr. Moreton
gersce
Parliamentary Office
The attached P.Q. by Mr. John Rankin, M.P. (Glasgow, Govan) is for oral reply on Monday, 24 March. Mr. Rankin has a long-standing interest in Hong Kong affairs and has visited the Colony.
2.
His figures are actually on the low side. The number of residents in the estate is 68,000 and the number of vacant school places 2,477 in the unaided private primary schools (52 empty class- rooms with a capacity of 1,872 children and 605 casual vacancies). In Government and subsidised primary schools there are no vacant classrooms and only 79 casual vacancies in operating classes.
3. With the aid of the local Kaifong Association a detailed survey is now being carriedout of all Wang Tau Hom children not attending primary school. The results of the survey will be evaluated by the Education and Social Welfare Departments and if they indicate a need for further aided primary school places in this part of Kowloon, the necessary measures will at once be set in train without waiting for the expansion planned over the whole Colony to take care of the situation. But in any case, it is the aim of the Hong Kong Government to provide free or subsidised education to all children of primary school age by 1970/71 when a total of 695,000 places in Government and subsidised primary schools will exceed the expected total of 650,000 children of primary school age.
4. The reduction in standard school fees referred to in the Notes for
Supplementary Questions is part of the current budget proposals.
Flag A 5. The draft answer is based on Hong Kong telegram No.217 (copy
attached).
18 March, 1969
W. 5. Carter
(W. S. Carter)
Hong Kong Department
19/3.
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