TNAG-0658-FCO40-807-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1977 — Page 19

Item 7 "The alleged lack of concern on the part of the

authorities in Hong Kong about the above problems"

The comments provided on items 1 6, and the present state of educational provision and policy, show that this allegation is quite unfounded. The issues raised by the Education Action Group are often idealistic, and tend to ignore financial realities and the requirements of other (non-educational) priority areas; however, it is clear that on many of their more apposite points, progress is already being made, or else policies are being actively reviewed. There can be no doubt that, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, the educational system in Hong Kong today represents a considerable improvement on what it was 5 or 10 years ago, and in 5 or 10 years time it will be even better. Government does not claim that it is a perfect system for all, but it does claim that the improve- ment has been rapid and sustained. Indeed, having regard to all the economic circumstances and to the increase in population, one might fairly claim that, both absolutely and relatively to other territories, remarkable progress has been made over the period since the reoccupation in 1945, and the Government has every intention of maintaining this record. As an indication of the development that has taken place over the last five years, total expenditure on education has increased from $694 million in the financial year 1972/73 to $1,688.6 million (estimated) in the current financial year.

2.

Above all, it is simply not true that the Government "lacks concern" about education, nor is this true of the unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils.