ENG-1973 — Page 121

EDUCATION

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schools. A total of 14 summer courses including gymnastics, dance, ball games, swimming, life-saving and Chinese boxing, were also conducted for physical education teachers serving in primary and secondary schools.

The physical education section was heavily involved in the 1973 Festival of Hong Kong, organising activities for school children. More than 50,000 children participated in the festival where youth was the keynote. Particular attention was given to activities for physically handicapped students.

Overseas Studies in the United Kingdom

The students' section of the Hong Kong Government Office in London is responsible for keeping records of all officially recommended students in Britain and for assisting them to find places in universities and institutions of higher education. The same services are provided for nurses undergoing training in hospitals in Britain. The section also makes arrangements for students, including nurses, to be met and accommodated on arrival. The section also helps with personal and educational problems during their stay, and to find employment, particularly in Hong Kong, after graduation or completion of training. The section maintains close relations with the Education Department and other departments in Hong Kong on matters of welfare and employment. Similarly, in Britain, close contact has been kept with the British Council, the Overseas Development Administration and with hospitals and educational institutions where Hong Kong students are studying.

There are some 4,400 students recorded by the student adviser, excluding govern- ment servants but including apprentices on sandwich courses and nurse trainees, undergoing a wide range of courses in Britain.

On January 1, 1973 Mr Gordon White, formerly senior examinations officer in the Colonial Secretariat in Hong Kong, arrived to take up the newly established post of appointments officer. One of his duties is the secretaryship of both the United Kingdom Selection Board and the Nurses Selection Board. Until Mr White's arrival this duty has been the responsibility of the student adviser. The boards recommend for appointment those students and nurses who are found suitable for posts in Hong Kong.

Competition for admission to universities is keen, particularly to the medicine and law faculties. Even after considerable preliminary eliminations by these institu- tions, applications and places finished in the ratio of 17 to one. During 1973, 66 Hong Kong candidates from a total of 128 were offered conditional places and most of those applying for polytechnics and colleges were accepted.

During the year, there were 994 new arrivals from Hong Kong, of whom 347 joined universities, polytechnics and other institutions of professional courses, 144 were trainee-nurses and 503 registered for GCE courses.

The government maintains the Hong Kong Students Centre, formerly known as the Hong Kong House, as a residential and social centre in London for Hong Kong students in Britain. It accommodates some 75 students and serves as a focal and meet- ing place for many more. The Administrative Commissioner in London is responsible

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