ENG-1956 — Page 156

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

for the engineering classes, and English in the commercial classes.

Adult education is provided through classes of the Evening Institute, the Technical College Evening Department, the Evening School of Higher Chinese Studies, and by private night schools.

The Evening Institute now has 48 urban classes in English, for which there is an increasing demand; 22 classes for a general background course consisting of Chinese, English, civics, arithmetic, and general knowledge; and 24 classes of a general practical nature, which include instruc- tion in woodwork, housecraft, sewing and knitting. With other classes, the total enrolment in September came to 3,607, of whom 2,068 were men and 1,539 women; in addition, 1,219 men and 342 women were registered as members of the Adult Reading and Recreation Centres. The enrolment of the Evening School of Higher Chinese Studies, which provides 3-year courses in arts and commerce, was 302, of whom 160 were men and 142 women.

In Music, Art and Drama, talent and enthusiasm exist in abundance. There were 1,315 entries for the Schools Music Festival, compared with 68 in 1949, and the competitors were highly praised by the adjudicator, Miss Helen Henschel (Lady Claughton). The standard of performance in the Inter- School Dramatic Competition, which is keenly contested every year, continues to show improvement. The schools again contributed in various ways to the Hong Kong Festival of the Arts, the number of paintings submitted for display being particularly encouraging.

In the field of Physical Education, and of sports and games, in which girls are taking an increasing part, the training and refresher courses provided for teachers have helped to stimulate keenness and improve standards of per- formance and organization. The New Territories Schools Sports Association, formed in 1954, is well supported. Extra-