TNAG-0473-FCO40-538-Hong-Kong-government-policy-on-education-1974 — Page 198

1.1

Secondary Education in Hong Kong

during the next decade

Chapter 1

Introduction

This Paper sets out the broad basis on which

the Government, after taking into account the views of

the Board of Education and the general public, intends

secondary education in Hong Kong to develop during the

next ten years.

1.2

The White Paper on Education Policy, published

in April 1965, stated that the final aim of any educational

policy must be to provide every child with the best education

which he or she is capable of absorbing, at a cost which the

parents and the community can afford. The interim goal,

of providing free primary education for all who desire it,

was accepted by the Government, although it was recognised

that it could not be achieved immediately. Free primary

education was subsequently introduced in all Government

and aided primary schools with the exception of the

Junior English Schools and a minority of subsidised

schools_7 in 1971, by which time sufficient places had become

available for every child in the primary age-group.

1.3

The 1965 White Paper recommended that between

15% and 20% of those completing the primary course should

receive subsidised secondary education. In 1970, the

Government, after a re-appraisal of progress, decided that

a further major expansion of secondary education was

necessary. Steps were taken to increase the provision

of subsidised secondary education to a total of 50% of

/the

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