TNAG-0346-FCO40-382-Communist-threat-to-education-in-Hong-Kong-communist-schools-1972 — Page 6

early 1967 communist schools provided places for about 19,600 pupils, or just

under 2% of the total student population at that time. The immediate effect

of confrontation was the loss of about 2,500 punila, obviously the least

dedicated, leaving a hard core of about 17,000 students on which to base

plans for expansion.

Expansion 1968-April 1969

17.

By the summer of 1968 communist schools and brauches of existing

schools were opening in different areas in Hong Kong and Kowloon and, for the

first time, communist schools in the urban area were opening branches in the

New Territories. By March 1969 enrolments in schools had risen to more than

26,000 or, in other words, an increase of more than 50% since the end of 1967.

The speed with which this expansion proceeded suggests that it was, in part at

least, the continuation of long-term planning, decided upon before confrontation.

18.

The degree of success achieved by the communists varied from project

to project but in just over a year expansion completed was as follows:

(a) Hong Kong Island: new cchools and extensions of existing

schools providing accommodation for 2,683 additional

students.

During this period, actual enrolments rose

by 1,722 to 10,663.

(b) Kowloon: new schools and extensions of existing schools,

providing accommodation for 2,394 additional students.

During this period actual enrolments rose by 5,329 to

14,076.

(c) New Territories:

new branches of existing urban schools

in Yuen Long, Tsuen Wan, Taipo Market and Sheung Shui,

providing facilities for 552 additional students, whilst

actual enrolments rose from zero to 1,428.