new schools in addition to the 53 schools in the present New Towns building programme and the 12 existing schools in the New Towns, i.e. there will be a total requirement of 122 secondary schools (12 existing; 110 to be built).
3.17 Outside the New Towns, there are areas (notably in Kwun Tong and parts of the New Territories) in which there is an existing shortage of secondary school places. This will be accentuated by the adoption of the new targets. It is estimated that by 1983 a total of 51 extra new secondary schools will be required in areas other than the New Towns. Thus, altogether, 161 new secondary schools will be required for the whole Colony [see Table II].
Fees
3.18 Since the 1965 White Paper on Education Policy, free primary education has been introduced in Hong Kong. This step was only possible when there were sufficient places available in Government and aided primary schools for all children of primary school age. The Government believes that no child should be denied secondary educa- tion solely because of the inability of parents to pay school fees It is, therefore, intended that the present system of fee remission will continue for so long as the Government is unable to accept the high cost which would be involved in making secondary education wholly free.
Costs
3.19 In considering the cost of the new policy now outlined, it is necessary to assess capital and recurrent expenditure separately, and to differentiate between the various types of education to be provided. Whatever cost projections are used, many uncertain factors may affect them. For example, general rises in costs of building and of teachers' salaries and variations in fees and fee remissions, will have an important influence on net costs. It should be stressed that the estimates in Table II and III are based on mid-1974 prices.
Capital Costs
3.20 The estimated capital costs (at mid-1974 prices) of the secondary schools which are estimated to be required to meet the new targets, as detailed in paragraph 3.16 and 3.17 are given below in Table II.
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