TNAG-0658-FCO40-807-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1977 — Page 173

Publicity

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There is no demand to publish the Hartwell Report save from the Hong Kong University and it has been confirmed that the University's wishes would be met if it was informed of the Govern- ment's decision. It is also thought that no useful purpose could be gained by publishing the Report, because it contains material which is largely out of date. If it is decided that action should proceed as outlined in this memorandum it is proposed that an announcement be made in general terms, due credit being given to the Hartwell Com- mittee's efforts. Such a statement is unlikely to cause controversy; rather it will enlist, support from informed opinion. ›

Consultations

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The opportunity has been taken to consult the two Universities, the Polytechnic and the Board of Education. The Universities and the Polytechnic support in principle the proposals in this memorandum to set up the IEA, subject to adequate representation and certain other points which can be further explored during the planning stage. The Board of Education has been consulted twice. On the first occasion it endorsed in full the Hartwell Committee's recommendations. Para- graph 55 of the Green Paper on Education reads:

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"Finally, in the course of our deliberations on the matter of public examinations in Hong Kong, we have noted the main recommendations of the Working Party set up in 1969 under the chairmanship of Sir Charles Hartwell to make a detailed study on the creation of an Examining Authority to conduct public examinations at 5th and 6th Form levels in Hong Kong. We endorse, as an ultimate objective, the recommendation of the Working Party that such an Examining Authority should be established. However, we advise that its establishment is a matter of great complexity, which will require the fullest co-operation and consultation with the two Universities and will probably be considerably more expensive than the present system.

At a more recent meeting of the Board the following views were expressed:

C.S. 166

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the title "Hong Kong Examinations Board" was preferable to "Hong Kong Independent Examinations Authority" (but the Board agreed that this point of nomenclature could be further considered during the planning stage);

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