TNAG-0795-FCO40-999-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1978 — Page 151

10.4

The Government indicated to the UPGC in the summer of 1976 the growth targets for each institution over the triennial planning period 1978-81. These provided that the University of Hong Kong should grow at 7% annually above its approved student number targets for 1977-78 to 5,450 by the academic year 1980-81, and the Chinese University at 31% annually to 4,880 over the same period. In respect of the following triennium, covering the period 1981-84, the Government proposes that each university should grow at 3% annually, and it envisages that this rate of expansion would be maintained in the period thereafter. Thus the university student population would exceed 12,000 by the mid 1980's, building up at the rate noted below:-

1977-78 1980-81 1983-84 1986-87

University of Hong Kong

4.450

5,450

5,950

6,500

Chinese

4,400

University

4,880

5,330 5,830

Combined

university

8,850 10,330

11,280

12,330

population

Each university might eventually reach a maximum size of about 7,000 students.

10.5 It would be possible for a further increase to occur in the number of students provided with a university education, without causing these student population targets to be exceeded, if the Chinese University were to decide to reduce its under- graduate course (except in the Medical Faculty) from four to three years, the same course length as obtains at the University of Hong Kong, following the proposed development of a common two-year sixth form course that is discussed in Chapter 6. The desirability of having a common examination and a uniform length of undergraduate course in the two universities has been raised on several occasions, notably by three Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council during the debate on the Second Reading of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Bill in December 1976. A decision on whether any such change would be compatible with educational objectives and the appropriate time for implementation would be a matter for the University, but the Government hopes that the University Council will give consideration to the suitability of this proposal.

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