TNAG-1842-FCO40-2617-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 20

42.

Another area where there is very large public

expenditure is education. Free schooling for ail children

is now provided up to the age of 16 and many more are now

staying on at school beyond this age. Very high priority

is being given to the expansion of higher education. At

present there are 36,000 full-time equivalent places in the

tertiary institutions, providing degree courses for 6.5% of

young people in the relevant age group and non-degree

courses for a furtner 4%. The aim is steadily to expand

these numbers to over 62,000 full-time equivalent places by

the turn of the century, by which time degree courses will

be available For 148 of young People in the relevant age

group and

for another 6%.

non-degree

courses

A third

university, the Hong Kong University of Science and

Technology, 1S being

students in 1991.

developed and will take its first

43.

In addition, the Hong Kong Vocational Training

Council operates eight technical institutes with 62,000

full-time and part-time places at both craft and technician

levels. It also runs 16 industrial training centres with

20,000 places to train workers in various industries.

44.

social

In the social welfare field, a non contributory

security system provides financial assistance

sufficient to bring the income of needy individuals and