ENG-1972 — Page 93

EDUCATION

57

Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, was introduced by the government in 1969-70. The administration of grants totalling $2.86 million and loans totalling $3.57 million for 1972-3 is in the hands of a Joint Universities' Committee. The scheme represented a substantial increase in the amount of public funds available for student financing and aimed to ensure that students offered a place in either of the two universities should not be prevented, through lack of means, from accepting the offer.

Early in the year, the Joint Universities' Committee produced evidence to show that in order to achieve this aim, an increase of about 32 per cent in grant funds and about 200 per cent in loan funds would be needed for 1972-3. As a result the govern- ment allocated in September 1972 an extra $918,000 for grants and an extra $6.25 million for loans for 1972-3. With these increased allocations, the amounts of grant and loan funds became $3.78 million and $9.82 million respectively.

Both the University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong have financial resources of their own, but are largely financed by the government. Because of the importance of university development and the sums of public money involved, the government needs impartial and expert advice both on the assessment of the amount of grant required to sustain any level of university activity and on developments necessary to meet the community's requirements for graduates. The government also needs advice on the allocation of funds between the universities. To carry out these functions there is a University Grants Committee appointed by the Governor. It also acts as the formal channel between the universities and the government.

The University Grants Committee was expanded in May 1972 to become the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee to advise the government also on the allocation of funds for the Hong Kong Polytechnic which came into being in August 1972.

The University of Hong Kong was established in 1911 with a land grant from the government and endowments which have since been increased. Substantial govern- ment grants are also made towards the university's annual recurrent and non-recurrent expenditure.

The number of undergraduate places in each faculty in 1972-3 were as follows: arts 703; science 471; medicine 722; engineering and architecture 594; and social sciences and law 540. Of these, a total of 900 places were available for new under- graduate entrants. There were also 651 places for postgraduate students, comprising 395 reading for higher degrees and 256 reading for diplomas and certificates, 47 students at the Chinese Language School, two visiting students and nine external students. The number of full-time teaching posts (including demonstratorships and tutorships) at the beginning of the academic year was 491. All the degrees and other professional qualifications conferred by the university are on the same footing as those of the universities in Great Britain.

The university's Department of Education offers graduates a one-year full-time course leading to a Diploma in Education and a two-year part-time course leading