TNAG-1072-FCO40-1322-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1981 — Page 138

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The Polytechnic students do very well in the technical papers of CEI part II but relatively poorly in that paper which deals with communicative ability and a knowledge of the social background of Engineering.

Members note that at the Polytechnic there is a heavy emphasis on teaching English both by means of courses in English and communication and through the medium of other subjects.

EMPLOYMENT OUTLETS AND PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

Employment of Diplomates

Employment and promotion in government and in major firms relies to a greater degree than in the United Kingdom on the qualifications of the employee. The Government establishments are preferred employers because they tend to pay higher salaries (at least that is students' appreciation of the situation), and tend to set the pattern for the acceptance of candidates with particular qualifications.

Data on the first employment indicates that in recent years diplomates from both the Baptist College and the Polytechnic have joined contractors and consultants but not the Government Public Works Department. Employment by PWD under ICE training agreement is limited to students with an academic qualification recognised by CEI. But students from the Baptist College generally do not proceed to CEI examination while in Hong Kong, and many of the Polytechnic students following the Polytechnic Associateship take more than one attempt to pass the Engineer in Society paper so that they do not become eligible for employment in PWD under agreenent until some time after leaving the Polytechnic and finding other satisfactory employment. There is a considerable restraint on the number of graduate engineers which the PWD can take under agreement since the ICE have stipulated a maximum of about 16 per year. This in effect also restricts future recruitment to PWD of experienced engineers.

The Public Works Department allows direct entry to its Assistant Engineer and Assistant Structural Engineer grades by Baptist College diplomates from the old four year diploma provided that they have four years relevant post qualification experience for the former grade, and three years post qualification experience in structural engineering design for the latter grade. These entry requirements are the same as for graduates from the Hong Kong or British Universities except that the graduates need one year less relevant experience, but it seems that Baptist College diplomates also start at one increment below university entrants.