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THE BRITISH COUNCIL IN HONG KONG
The British Council began work in Hong Kong in 1948 and set up an
English Language Institute in 1976 which now has 12,000 students
and generates £1.7 million of revenue annually. The Hong Kong
Representation is unique in that it operates a full range of
cultural activities at no cost to the British taxpayer.
The Council's aim in Hong Kong is to promote an enduring under-
standing and appreciation of Britain through cultural, educational and technical cooperation. Its work enjoys the full support of
the Hong Kong Government.
The Council's English Language Institute offers a wide variety
of courses at all levels for private students, teachers of English,
and groups from commerce and industry and the public sector.
There is a library with 12,000 volumes, a film library and a
teachers' resource centre. The maintenance of exemplary prof- essional standards is a priority.
The Council maintains close links with British publishers for
whom Hong Kong is an important market; it has been of particular assistance to them in the promotion of English language texts.
The Council's role in the arts is to act as middleman in
facilitating the import of British arts presentations and
expertise to Hong Kong, which is rapidly developing as a major
international cultural centre.
The Council also runs a programme of academic and professional links and exchanges, giving particular emphasis to Hong Kong's
higher education sector. The maintenance of these links has
been particularly important at a time when Hong Kong students are
being charged the full overseas rates for study in Britain, and
are beginning to look to universities in other countries for
training.
August 1982
Issued by Parliamentary Liaison Officer, Public Relations Department, The British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1. Tel: 930 8466
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