TNAG-0534-FCO40-629-UK-aid-to-Hong-Kong-Polytechnic-and-technical-institutions-1975 — Page 100

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accomplished in three or four years what other countries had managed

only in a decade.

26.

He added that he was hoping to set up a teaching laboratory

with equipment not available elsewhere. He also said he might

be asking TETOC to suggest an external examiner.

(11) Mechanical & Marine Engineering Department

27.

In the absence of Mr. Ho, the head of the department, I was seen

by his deputy Mr. D.V Lindsey. He told me the 1975 needs of the

Department would be for people with appropriate qualifications and

an industrial background who would be able to mix on equal terms

in industry not only within the Polytechnic but with engineers/outside to whom

its facilities would need to be sold. They would be concerned with

such subjects as automation, control, fluid power and instrumentation

ratherthan the classical engineering subjects. There was an increase

in the sophistication of the subjects taught and Mr. Lindsey also

said design experience would be useful. He laid emphasis on a factor

constantly mentioned when I was visiting the Education Department

and its teaching institutions the previous week

persuade Chinese students of the importance of a practical approach

and practical training.

the need to

28. Vacancies would be at Lecturer and Senior Lecturer level. Mr

Lindsey added that the first three years of a student's work were

taken up with working for the Higher Diploma and the fourth for

a professional qualification which amounted to degree level. In this

connection it may be mentioned that during my visit I constantly

found myself up against a controversy as to whether the Polytechnic

should or should not teach degree courses. By and large, teaching

staff and students (and also De Legg the new Director designate)

thought it should, and deployed strongly felt arguments in favour.

But the Hong Kong Government and the Board of Governors are adamant

that, for sometime at least, the Polytechnic should not develop into

anything like a technical university, which would be at the expense

of training people at the middle level who were, so badly needed in

industry.

29. Mr. Lindsey confirmed many of the shortcomings of service with

the Polytechnic which had become so familiar to me. But he also

spoke of the more favourable aspects. He said communication with the