TNAG-0178-FCO40-214-Education-policy-1969 — Page 8

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

18

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEETH, OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 915

13 DECEMBER 1969

CONFIDENTIAL .

YOUR TELEGRAM 781 : PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION BY MR COLIN JACKSON.

THE FIRST SENTENCE OF YOUR PARAGRAPH 2 IS NOT STRICTLY CORRECT AND

I SUGGEST A REPLY ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES :-

(A) HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S DECLARED ULTIMATE AIM IS THE PROVISION

OF FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR ALL WHO DESIRE IT.

(B) THE ANNOUNCED INTER IM TARGET IS TO EXTEND AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE

THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBSIDIZED PRIMARY SCHOOLS SO

AS TO PROVIDE FOR ALL CHILDREN OF PRIMARY SCHOOL AGE WHO SEEK SUCH

PLACES. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THIS POSITION WILL HAVE BEEN REACHED BY

LATE 1970.

(C) SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTIONS IN FEES IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBSIDIZED

PRIMARY SCHOOLS WERE INTRODUCED WITH EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER 1969.

THE STANDARD FEES ARE NOW TWENTY SEVEN SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE A YEAR

FOR URBAN SCHOOLS AND THIRTEEN SHILLINGS AND NINEPENCE A YEAR FOR

RURAL SCHOOLS. IN CASES OF NEED EVEN THESE LOW FEES ARE REMITTED

AND GRANTS GIVEN TO HELP WITH PURCHASES OF TEXTBOOKS AND STATIONERY.

(D) ALTHOUGH VERY SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TOWARDS THE AIM

OF FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR ALL WHO DESIRE IT, A POSITION HAS NOT

YET BEEN REACHED WHERE IT IS POSSIBLE TO CONSIDER LEGISLATING FOR

COMPULSORY PRIMARY EDUCATION.

SIR H. NORMAN WALKER

FILES:

HONG KONG DEPT

C.R.D.

MR. WILFORD

&&&&&

REF.

NEXT

REF.

CONFIDENTIAL

PECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No. 51

15 DEC 1969

FIKK 9/