TNAG-0346-FCO40-382-Communist-threat-to-education-in-Hong-Kong-communist-schools-1972 — Page 8

also almost doubled. By March 1970 there were 44 communist controlled schools

established in the Colony in 90 separate premises providing, between them, 21,164

places. liowever, as many of the schools are bi-ressional the declared enrolment

to the Education Department at that time was as high as 28,197 or 2.4% of the

student enrolment in the Colony. The communist schools claimed to cater for

19,200 primary students and 6,200 secondary studenis.

The Present Position and Current Expansion Plans

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22.

The latest figures available, which show the position as at September

1971, give the total declared student population in communist schools as 32,655,

or some ?.6% of the Colony's student population. These students attend a total

of 42 communist schools, operating from 90 different premises. The student

figures are shown on the graph at Annex 'A'. They do not give a completely

accurate picture however, since most communist schools house excess students the

number of which is conservatively estimated at 5% of the total. In addition there

are approximately 3,200 pupils studying at unregistered communist schools in the

Walled city and Union premises. Based on the figures therefore, the total

estimated student population in communist schools is in the region of 37,700, or

some 3.1% of the total student population.

23.

The most ambitious project of the current expansion phase is the build-

ing of a school by the Workers' Children's Education Promotion Association

(W.C.E.P.A.) on the periphery of Tsz Wan Shan Rosettlement Estate. The school

caters for some 2,000 students (1,000 in each of two sessions) and will probably

operate a smaller evening school as well. To finance the project, the W.C.E.P.A.

launched a fund-raising dive with a target of HK$1 million. This was heavily

over-subscribed, and after deducting the cost of the new school, there is still a

large balance left for further expansion. Another communist controlled school,

the Hueng To Middle School, has also moved into the Tsz Wan Shan area. This school

took over the promises of an existing school and now has around 500 students.

There are plans for a new building to be erected on the same site however, and this

/will.....

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