TNAG-0251-FCO40-287-Education-policy-of-government-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 35

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Friday, October 9, 1970

3

RECHER, MA.01

NKK 911

SYSTEM OF MASS EDUCATION

Infrastructive Of Policy Soundly Based

Mr. J. Canning, Director of Education, said today Hong Kong was

moving in a determined way from a position of education for the few to a

system of mass education.

He told the Legislative Council the infrastructure of education

in the Colony was soundly based, and the decade of the 1970s would see, in

time, an expansion of education facilities at least equal to the expansion

that had been achieved in any previous decade.

In the early 50s, primary placos in government and aided primary

schools were in a minority, and education in government and aided secondary

places was available "only for a few olite pupils.

But today, the Government would soon be in a position where it

could offer a place in a government and aided primary school to all children

of primary school age and was contemplating not only the abolition of

foes in the generality of these schools, but also the introduction of powers

to safeguard childron from boing unnecessarily withhold from primary schools.

It was also planning the provision of at least three years of post-

primary education for all children.

"These aro significant advances indeed, but understandably perhaps,

there are many who press for further advances in other areas of education.

I have no doubt that further advances will be made, but the pace of these

advances must bo carefully judged," Mr. Canning said.

/In reply

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