TNAG-1361-FCO40-1807-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 356

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For those like Mrs Selina Chow who advocate the

early abolition of JSEA, there are some practical facts

to be pondered. Although numerically it is just

possible to buy the required number of Form 4 and 5

places from the private sector to meet the anticipated

student demand, the great majority of places will have

to be bought from the less satisfactory private schools

including even those in which Form 1-3 places are not

bought at present. It has been argued that since the

equivalent of about 20% of the 15-year old age group who

fail to secure subsidised full-time post-Form 3 places

on the basis of their JSEA results are currently

continuing their education in these schools at their own

expense, the situation would be no worse if Government

were to buy these places. Nor would it be any better.

I share Miss Tam's view that there is a lack of

justification for the Government to spend some $500

million, which is what it will cost the community if

these places were bought by the Government immediately. about $400 million of taken from September 1986 It is as well to bear in mind that the total capital

costs for all the recommendations in the Commission's

Report which will bring about long-term educational

progress and improve the quality of education is some

$430 million only.

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