TNAG-0485-FCO40-550-UK-publications-on-labour-and-social-conditions-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 59

2(b)

2(c)

2(a)

CONFIDENTIAL

A thorough review of the structure and scale of provision of educational facilities at secondary level has culminated

:

in the White Paper on Secondary Education in Hong Kong during the next decade which will. be tablod in the Legislative Council on 16th October 1974.

To quote from the White Paper:-

"The Government's main objective is to make available,

by 1979, subsidised education for every child for nine years, i.c. six years in a primary school followed

All children by three years in a secondary school. should follow a common course of general education throughout these nine years.

>

After completing the three years junior secondary course children selected by means of a new public examination in Form III will enter senior secondary grammar or senior secondary technical forms. It is intended that 60% of the places should be in senior secondary grammar forms and 40% in senior secondary technical forms, although this ratio may take some time to achieve in view of the existing preponderance of secondary grammar schools. is the Government's aim that there should be sufficient places in senior secondary forms in the public sector for 40% of the 15-16 age group by 1979".

It

Facilities for university education are open to all, on a basis of capacity, and schemes of aid for needy students are designed to ensure that no student need be deprived for an opportunity for higher studies because of financial limitations. Approved plans for the universities quadrennium 1974 - 1978 are based on a total enrolment of 8,850 undergraduates by 1978, while the Hong Kong Polytechnic enrolment should reach 6,000 full time students under Phase I of the Polytechnic Development Plan by 1976.

To cater for persons who have not received primary education, or whose primary education has been curtailed, the Adult Education Section of the Education Department makes available a number of retrieval courses, including Chinese Literacy Classes and Chinese General Subjects Classes, of such a kind as to afford full opportunity to such persons to further their basic education. Courses at a more advanced level are also provided, e.g. those of the Evening School of Higher Chinese Studies. In addition, a number of private schools operate Chinese Literacy classes.

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CONFIDENTIAL

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