TNAG-0658-FCO40-807-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1977 — Page 163

C.S. 166

XCC(77)19

CONFIDENTIAL

- 10

機密

Consultation

23

As noted in paragraph 2, there has been wide-ranging consulta- tion with the two Universities and the Polytechnic on the form and powers of the Authority, as a result of which a number of substantial amendments have been made to Government's original proposals. The Director of Education advises that it has been possible to satisfy the Universities generally on the points raised by them, and that they now accept the terms of the bill and the other arrangements proposed for the Authority. He also points out that there will be a continuing need for consultation with the Universities after the establishment of the Authority, particularly with reference to the details of the take-over by the Authority, of the administration of the Matriculation examination of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and of the University of Hong Kong 'A' level examination, and that the Universities and the Polytechnic will be strongly represented on the subject committees preparing syllabuses for the various examina- tions, as well as on the Authority itself.

24

The proposals contained in this memorandum, together with the annexed bill, were considered at length by the Board of Education at their meeting on 29th November 1976. The Board agreed with the proposals, subject to further discussions being held with the University of Hong Kong on the arrangements for the takeover of the 'A' level examination: as noted in paragraph 15 above, these discussions have now been concluded satisfactorily. The Board also stressed the need for the early appoint- ment of staff for the Authority, and for a deliberate effort to ensure that schools were given full information about the Authority.

Public relations

25

Following Members' consideration of XCC(75)42, a certain amount of publicity was given to Government's intention to create an independent Examinations Authority to administer the three school exam- inations. There was very little reaction to this publicity, and those educationalists who did express opinions on the subject were generally favourable to the proposal. It is unlikely that the introduction of the Hong Kong Examinations Authority Bill will in itself cause any adverse comment of significance. What may be unpopular, however, is the announcement of fee increases, which will have to be made by the Director of Education in July 1977 in respect of the 1978 Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination, as noted in paragraph 22 above, and in subsequent years by the Authority as the Government subvention is phased out. Some members of the public may question the principle of the Authority becoming self-financing. It is proposed to emphasise in publicity that the Authority will, when fully operative, administer examinations on a non-profit making but unsubsidised basis, and that fee increases are unavoidable because of the Government's subsidy of

CONFIDENTIAL #2

機密