TNAG-1072-FCO40-1322-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1981 — Page 233

GF 323

CONFIDENTIAL #2

機密

30

(c)

besar

Libraries

During the past triennium the three institutions have faced serious problems in attempting to maintain their library expenditure in real terms. These problems reflected. the continued rise in book (and especially periodical) prices, the decline in the international value of the Hong Kong dollar, and also the growing demand for material in new areas of teaching and research.

In its submission to us Hong Kong University described its recent level of expenditure as "wholly inadequate"; while the Polytechnic indicated to us that its 1980-81 recurrent expenditure (as distinct from the nearly exhausted British . Government setting up grant) was almost wholly utilised by maintenance of subscriptions to current periodicals.

For the next triennium Hong Kong University and the Polytechnic have asked for substantial additional library funds. The Chinese University, however, which had previously been asked by the UPGC to keep total library spending within 72% of total expenditure, has proposed spending much of the non salary share of its library monies on an electronic surveillance system.

In our financial recommendations we have allowed an

In the adequate sum to meet Hong Kong University's requests. case of the Polytechnic we have not allowed for expenditure on the scale requested, but we have put in a sum that should allow its expenditure to move toward the level justified by the total student load and by plans to raise the level of Polytechnic work. We have not allowed sums that would be necessary to enable the Polytechnic to continue toward its long term goal of being a major regional centre providing library and information services to industry and the community at large.

/For

CONFIDENTIAL #Z

機密