TNAG-0658-FCO40-807-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1977 — Page 146

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Mr Murray Parliamentary Unit

tary

HONG KONG: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: MR STAN NEWENS MP

1. Mr Stan Newens (Labour/Co-operative Harlow) has put down a Question for Written Answer asking the Secretary of State how many children of primary school age in Hong Kong are not attending school and what percentage this represents as a total number of children in this age range.

2. Mr Newens takes a keen interest in Hong Kong's affairs and over the years has tabled a number of Questions covering a wide range of subjects. His most recent Questions, on 26 January, dealt with the treatment of squatters. His present Question complements those which Mr Robert Parry MP asked last December about the enrolment of 10-14 year old children in school.

3. Primary school education is free in Hong Kong and, although it is not compulsory, the Director of Education has powers to compel children to go to school if the parents do not have good reasons for keeping children at home. Thus, if children are required to help their families during harvest time or in fishing then they may not be required to attend school. Generally speaking, however, the Chinese are keen to see their children educated and so there is little truancy, except perhaps at the higher end of the age group.

4. I submit a draft reply based on information supplied by the Hong Kong Government.

29 June 1977

cc:

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

Mr Cortazzi

for

D.F. Million

JA B Stewart

Hong Kong & General Dept

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