TNAG-1362-FCO40-1808-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 162

Speech by SEM for Budget Debate 1985

Mr. Francis Tien has referred to the importance

of technical and vocational education and urged that

grants to the Vocational Training Council be kept

at an adequate level, a view which I share, and

Mr. Peter C. Wong has commented on the need to review

the modes of financing education.

2.

As Mr. Wong has pointed out, education accounts

for the biggest single slice of Government expenditure.

The enormous sum of $7.81 billion has been provided

for education in 1985-86: 17% of total expenditure.

Nothing could more clearly demonstrate Government's

commitment to maintaining, extending and improving

the educational system of Hong Kong, including

technical and vocational education.

An Thomas

3. No doubt the cry will be heard that still

more needs to be done. A word of caution is appropriate

here. Faced with existing expenditure of the magnitude

I have referred to, it seems clear that any new

advances of any size may have to be accompanied by a

review of the present methods of financing education.

I am grateful to Mr. Wong for making this point and

assure him that these important questions are receiving

I suggest we extrall (with any others)

Handenon (SEM)

Но Твоя

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UK student Jaes

Uś Tratile contals IMRA

:

HICK 011/19 RECEIVED

overseas offices. Cez 2914

/attention - 1 MAY 1985