ENG-1966 — Page 121

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EDUCATION

permitted in schools. Another amendment in respect of teachers will permit more persons to become eligible to have their names entered on the register of teachers, and the educational standard of permitted teachers is to be relaxed in respect of kindergarten schools and certain vocational subjects.

By the end of September enrolment in primary day and night schools was 657,585, which was 29,964 more than in 1965. Enrol- ment in all types of secondary schools had increased by 25,653 to 222,890. Altogether there were 983,495 pupils enrolled at all schools, colleges and education centres, 69,184 more than in 1965. Detailed figures are given in Appendix XXVI.

An interesting trend in education in Hong Kong in recent years has been its expansion beyond strictly academic fields. Since its inception in 1949 the Annual Schools Music Festival has done much to promote in young people an enjoyment and appreciation of music, and it now ranks as the largest festival of its kind in the world. Another highly successful venture in the field of music is the Hong Kong Youth Orchestra which has flourished since its formation three years ago. The orchestra now has 80 players and gives regular concerts for the public in the City Hall. Exhibitions of school- children's work in art have become an impressive and stimulating feature of the local scene and paintings by Hong Kong-children are nowadays receiving considerable acclaim overseas. Participation in outdoor training classes and competitive sports of many kinds has also increased considerably, and the standards of achievement reached by the young people of Hong Kong are steadily rising.

A royal occasion which gave ample opportunity for demonstration of the artistic talent and athletic skill of the Colony's youngsters was the schools' rally held in honour of Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, and the Earl of Snowdon at the Government Stadium on 7th March 1966. Two thousand young performers, drawn from a cross-section of the Colony's schools and youth groups, entertained the 30,000 schoolchildren and guests who packed the stadium with folk dances and traditional lion and dragon dances, gymnastic displays and martial music provided by massed school bands. The occasion was memorable not only for its pageant of colour and vitality of movement but for