ENG-1959 — Page 145

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

sources. This approved expenditure includes salaries, leave pay, incidentals, and passages for teachers who are so entitled. Alter- natively, a block grant may be made. Grants may also be made for up to 50% of the cost of new buildings, equipment and major repairs. The usual medium of instruction in Grant Schools is English.

A joint examination is held annually for pupils from Primary 6 classes in government schools, government-aided schools and private schools to select pupils for secondary education in govern- ment and aided secondary schools.

Subsidized Schools (which are mostly primary schools) are operated under a Subsidy Code. With government aid under the Code, selected schools can keep fees reasonably low and pay teachers the same salaries as are paid in government schools. There are now 386 subsidized schools, an increase of 8 over last year, brought about by the building of 43 new subsidized schools and by the admission of two private schools to the Subsidy Code; 37 schools changed their form of registration. These latter schools were formerly registered separately for morning and afternoon sessions, but have now combined and are registered as one school only. In addition, some schools erected new buildings and others added classrooms as a part of normal expansion. The subsidized schools benefited by the employment of an increasing number of trained teachers.

Private Schools. Indirect Government assistance is given to private schools through special courses for improving the profes- sional qualifications of teachers and through inspection and advice from specialists. A Special Advisory Panel was set up in the Education Department to assist and advise managers of private schools on all aspects of school management, including registra- tion, premises, equipment, staffing, finance and general administra- tion.

Private colleges are now playing a more important part in post- secondary education and show increased enrolment and better facilities. The Chinese Colleges' Joint Council representing three of these institutions has been established since 1957 for the pur- pose of formulating a common policy for study and administra- tion. The first event of significance was the establishment of a