TNAG-0658-FCO40-807-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1977 — Page 6

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requirements, was also taken only after consideration had been given to your Union's views and those of other members of the

taff Lide of the Consultative Council. It was after consider- ation of these views that the Government decided to modify one of the recommendations of the Special Commission on Certifiedted Masters and to retain a Government primary sector. The Govern- ment does not feel that it would be in the public interest to allow the number of surplus teachers in Government primary schools to continue to mount and the measures it has announced were designed to protect the interest of your members by providing opportunities for them to be redeployed to other expanding areas of education - in particular secondary education, special education, the schools guidance service and the recreation and sports service as well as to other areas of the Civil Pervice. As you know, no teacher need be retired compulsorily before 1980 and will thus have a reasonable time to make plans for his future.

There was considerable discussion of the Government's scheme for redeployment and retirement at the meeting of the Consultative Council on 8 August 1977. The Government has also explained its position fully to you in correspondence. I understand that you feel that the interests of your members would best be served by direct discussions with the Government. The Hong Kong, Government have pointed out that your Union already has this opportunity through its membership of the Consultative Council, since the virector of Education, who chairs the meetings of the Council, is the responsible authority and speaks for the Government. However, in his letter to your resident of 17 Leptember, the Secretary for Locial services indicated that the Director of education, together with a representative of the Secretary for the Civil Service, was prepared to engage in separate discussions with representatives of your Union, in the presence of the leader of the Staff bide of the Consultative Council.

The ecretary of state's advice is that your Union should accept this offer of separate discussions and should also participate

ile is sure that in future meetings of the Consultative Council.

this is the best way of resolving the difficulties that your members face.

W Quantrill

Hong Kong & General Department

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