TNAG-0220-FCO40-256-Constitutional-development-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 17

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Friday, July 24, 1970

"In addition, it is proposed to offer assistance to a larger

number of pupils in the age group to enable them to continue with a further

two years of post-primary education leading to a Certificate of Education.

This will be achieved by increasing the number of aided places in Forms IV

and V from the present 21,400 to a total of 38,400 by 1976, an increase

of 17,000. This will mean that five years of aided education will then be

available for 18 to 20 per cent of the 12-16 year age group, or nearly

double the present figure of 10 per cent."

Mr. Canning continued: "It is obvious that insufficient places

will be available in existing schools, and financial help will therefore

be given to building new ones. It has been estimated that the cost of this

might amount to as much as $250,000,000 which is equivalent to approximately

100 new schools. The recurrent costs will also be very heavy and by 1976

it is estimated that the annual cost of secondary education will be more

than $134,000,000 as compared with about $72,000,000 at present."

"Apart from its obvious general desirability, this new policy

will enable the young people of Hong Kong to be better prepared for employment

and will close the age gap between the time they leave primary school and

the minimum age for industrial employment which is 14 years."

Release Tile: 7.00 p.m.