ENG-1965 — Page 15

REVIEW

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agreement. Indeed some hold diametrically opposing views, but many of them have made constructive suggestions towards the attainment of the common aim of improving the conditions of life of the less fortunate members of the community."

Commenting on the criticism that the white paper was 'cold and negative' the acting Colonial Secretary said: 'I should like to stress that the government is most certainly interested in people as people and not only in their economic potential. We thus stress the importance of positive rehabilitation, as opposed to the estab- lishment of soup kitchens.' The amended white paper was adopted, with one member abstaining. Later in the year it was announced that a five-year plan was to be prepared for expanding social welfare services in the Colony. The plan will cover all fields of social welfare work in Hong Kong and will serve as a guide in the allocation of public funds for this purpose.

With more than 900,000 children and adults attending schools of various types, education is a topic in which nearly everyone has a personal interest. It was not surprising, therefore, that a white paper on education policy provoked more discussion than had been heard in Hong Kong for a considerable time. Initial reaction to the white paper was generally favourable but certain parts of it subsequently came under criticism. Its main features were: In primary education the government planned to provide as rapidly as possible a subsidized place for every child of the right age who wanted one; in 1968 a new sixth year of basic education would be introduced into primary schools; there would be no increase in the standard fees for Chinese primary schools, though the government proposed to double the amount of money devoted annually to free places in primary schools and would also increase the amount available for the same purpose in secondary schools; and it was proposed to return from seven to the age of six as the minimum age for admission to Chinese primary schools.

The white paper recommended increases in fees for certain educa- tional courses, the main increases being $80 a year in government and aided secondary schools, $240 a year in Junior English schools, and $680 a year in English secondary schools. These latter increases were designed to more nearly equate the subsidies received by Chinese and English schools, and most increases are to be carried out by stages. At the same time more liberal capital grants for

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