ENG-1958 — Page 145

EDUCATION

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children of members of Her Majesty's Forces, are subject to the provisions of the Education Ordinance. The Director of Education, who, under the Ordinance, has general control over education in the Colony, is chairman of the Board of Education, which has advisory functions, its members being appointed by the Governor. The Director is required to keep registers of schools, teachers, and managers of schools, and to ensure that satisfactory standards are maintained in respect of school buildings, methods of enforcing discipline, the keeping of registers and accounts, the payment of fees, and the proper conduct and efficiency of schools and teachers. The University of Hong Kong, which is an independent body, is exempt from the provisions of the Education Ordinance.

An Ordinance to amend the Education Ordinance, 1952, was enacted in 1958. The amendments did not embody any change in policy towards education, but were necessary to clarify and strengthen the provisions of the 1952 Ordinance. At the same time Government took wider powers to protect pupils in schools from physical hazards and political activities.

The main purpose of the legislation is to effect further safe- guards for the well-being of children. Not only does compliance with the requirements for registration under the Ordinance ensure a reasonable standard of safety in schools, but periodic inspection and advice by officers of the Education Department also ensure that schools are conducted along satisfactory lines.

Higher Education. Beginning its life in 1911 largely with financial assistance from generous friends and benefactors, the University of Hong Kong has since been mainly supported by recurrent and non-recurrent grants made annually by the Govern- ment. Its recurrent expenditure is now about $10,000,000 and the Government subvention towards recurrent expenditure for the current financial year is $5,900,000. In addition the budgetted capital subvention for 1958-9 is $3,000,000. Grants of Crown land have been made from time to time; the central University estate now covers an area of thirty six acres and other estates total almost nine acres.

There are faculties of Arts, Science, Medicine, and Engineering and Architecture with enrolments in October 1958 of 527, 147, 276 and 135 respectively. The Institute of Oriental Studies had 23 students and the Social Study course 18, giving a total of 1,126