TNAG-1331-FCO40-1758-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 326

4.35 THE CIVIL AVIATION SECTION IN THE DRAFT AGREEMENT HAS ATTRACTED FEW COMMENTS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC: ITS PROVISION WAS WELCOMED BY CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS. THE FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW TOOK THE VIEW THAT **THERE WILL BE A FUTURE FOR THE HONG KONG-BASED CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS IN ITS PRESENT FORM UP TO AND BEYOND 1997 AND THAT IT WOULD

PROVIDE A LARGE DEGREE OF AUTONOMY FOR THE HK SAR FROM 1997

IN AVIATION MATTERS - FAR MORE THAN AT PRESENT AIMING AT MAINTAINING THE STATUS OF HONG KONG AS A CENTRE OF REGIONAL

AND INTERNATIONAL AVIATION''.

S

4.37 AS REGARDS SERVICES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND TAIWAN, IT WAS NOTED THAT CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS COULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE BETWEEN THE TWO PLACES AS THE PRESENT AIR SERVICES RESTED ON AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CATHAY AND CHINA AIRLINES. THERE WAS NO AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN UK AND TAIWAN GOVERNMENT ON THIS ROUTE. SOME CONCERN WAS EXPRESSED ABOUT AIR SERVICES BETWEEN THE SAR AND THOSE COUNTRIES WITH NO

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE PRC.

SECTION X CULTURE AND EDUCATION

4.38 THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG'S EDUCATION POLICIES AND SYSTEM WITHIN THE TERMS OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT WERE WIDELY AND CONSTRUCTIVELY DISCUSSED. ALTHOUGH SOME CHANGES TO THE EXISTING EDUCATION SYSTEM WERE CONSIDERED NECESSARY, NO ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL HAD EXPRESSED DISAGREEMENT WITH THE DRAFT AGREEMENT AS A WHOLE. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (12) SAID THAT IT PROVIDES A SOUND BASIS FOR HONG KONG TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL

SYSTEM WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT OUR POPULATION WILL HAVE THE SKILLS AND EXPERTISE REQUIRED TO ENABLE THE TERRITORY TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE ITS POSITION IN THE FIERCELY COMPETITIVE ECONOMIC AND TRADING ENVIRONMENT WITHIN WHICH

HONG KONG OPERATES.'' VIEWS EXPRESSED HAVE CONCENTRATED ON :

EDUCATIONAL REFORMS

VALIDATION AND RECOGNITION OF PROFESSIONAL

QUALIFICATIONS

4.39

(12) A STATUTORY ADVISORY BODY ESTABLISHED UNDER

SECTION 7 OF THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE

IN THE CONTEXT OF EDUCATIONAL REFORMS,

SUGGESTIONS MADE INCLUDED :

THE USE OF CHINESE AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION

ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A PREVAILING FEELING THAT THE

TEACHING OF ENGLISH SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN

SUFFICIENT EMPHASIS:

SECRET-36-

/THE