TNAG-0658-FCO40-807-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1977 — Page 209

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REFERENCES

MILLER

NOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES

A.

EDUCATION

1. Future Plans

The Governor of Hong Kong announced last October, at the opening of the current session of the Legislative Council, that the immediate priority was to provide nine years of education, including three years of secondary education, for all children and within the means of all. The Hong Kong Government plans to meet the target of three years of secondary education for all primary school leavers by 1978 and the school leaving age will be effectively raised to 15 by 1980. There are also plans for a substantial expansion of technical education, the Hong Kong Polytechnic and the two universities.

2. Free Primary and Secondary Education?

There is already free primary school education in Hong Kong. There is a fees remission scheme for secondary education which is designed to ensure that no child is denied secondary education on financial grounds. In March 1976, over 60% of all pupils in the public sector received some degree of fees remission, including 14% who received full remission. If pressed: The Hong Kong Government have not announced plans to .. provide free secondary education for all.7

13. Free