TNAG-0251-FCO40-287-Education-policy-of-government-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 109

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Wodnosday, March 25, 1970

The committoo falt compulsory primary oducation would mako it

statutory for paronts to sand thair childron to school, failing which thoy

a course of action which would load to

would be liable to prosecution

rosontmont.

And financially, the oporation of such a system could wall bo

boyond the Governmont's capacity at tho prosent timo, having rogard to

othor more urgent social wolfaro comitments.

Mr. Canning doscribed those as "cogont argumonts." Thoy did not

rulo out tho introduction of compulsory primary education, but they did

mako tho important point that compulsory primary oducation had to bo soon

in the "socio-conomic context of our socioty."

On tochnical education, he told the Council in reply to a point

raised by Dr. S.X. Chung that ho did not see any insuperablo difficultios

in the way of recasting the estimatos in the future to separate Technical

Education from Further Education.

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He said the Polytechnic Planning Committoo sot up last year had

boon working hard since its ostablishment to deviso suitable procoduros for

the creation of a socond institution complomontary to the existing Technical

Collogo. It was intended that both should oporato under a now system of

administrativo control to ansuro a proper dogroe of flexibility and co-ordination

botwoon tho two.

"My colleagues on that committoo will, I think, agroo with me that

those are matters of considorable complexity, but considorable progross has

boon mado," ho said.

Expansion of educational services in post-primary areas and in tochnical

education would increase tho education bill considerably.

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