TNAG-0473-FCO40-538-Hong-Kong-government-policy-on-education-1974 — Page 137

INTRODUCTION

ON 26th January, 1973, we were appointed by His Excellency the Governor to be the new Board of Education, with the following specific terms of reference-

"Having regard to the Government's objective of providing three years secondary education for all in the 12-14 year age group and doubling the percentage of places in the secondary schools for the full 5-year course leading to a Certificate of Education examination, to consider:

(1) any changes that should be introduced into the present type of

secondary education offered;

(2) the proportion of academic to vocational secondary education

appropriate in the circumstances of Hong Kong;

(3) any changes in the present examination system that should be

introduced;

(4) the time scale in which it would be practical and desirable to implement the Government's policy, with particular reference

to:

(a) the expansion of facilities for the training of teachers; (b) the secondary school building programme in the urban

areas, new towns and New Territories;

(c) the degree of bi-sessionalism that the Board considers appropriate in both the short and long term in secondary schools and teacher training colleges;

(5) to what extent in the circumstances of Hong Kong secondary

education should be provided free of charge."

The appointment of the Hon. Woo Pak-chuen to the chairmanship marked the first occasion that the Board of Education had an unoffi- cial chairman. The full membership of the Board comprised the following:

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