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EDUCATION

of the Laws of Hong Kong. It advises the government on the formulation of educational policy and planning. The composition of the board reflects a wide range of interests in education matters with individual members providing a wealth of experience and expert knowledge.

Of the current 16 members, 14 (including the chairman) are appointed, the two official members being the Director of Education (vice-chairman) and the Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower. The board is serviced by the Education Department.

The board meets at monthly intervals and visits schools, educational institutions and centres from time to time.

University and Polytechnic Grants Committee

The University and Polytechnic Grants Committee (UPGC) is appointed by the Governor to advise the government on the development of and funding requirements for higher education in Hong Kong and to administer government grants for the tertiary institutions. There are at present five institutions funded through the UPGC: the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic, the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Baptist College.

Recurrent funding for the institutions is normally by block grants, provided on a triennial basis. Capital grants are considered annually at the same time as the government's estimates are prepared.

In addition to monitoring directly the academic development and funding of the institutions, the UPGC is responsible for providing advice on a wide variety of issues involving higher education. During the year the committee was consulted on such subjects as the need for a second law school, in addition to the existing school at the University of Hong Kong; appropriate student targets for degree courses at the non-university institu- tions; the validation of those courses; recommendations included in the Report of the Planning Committee on Academic Awards; the introduction of speech therapy courses; the appropriate level of, and organisation for, research funding at the tertiary institutions; the development of engineering studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong; and draft legislation for the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Members also advised the Education Commission on subjects relating to tertiary education, including the reform of the sixth form and open education.

There is no government representation on the UPGC. Membership comprises two categories: overseas members, who are distinguished senior academics from the United Kingdom, Australia and North America, and local members, who are prominent Hong Kong citizens drawn from the professions, business and commerce including, since 1986, senior academics.

The UPGC Secretariat, which is staffed by public servants, comprises two separate parts. The first services the UPGC. The second, the Student Finance Section, is responsible to the government for the administration of two means-tested schemes through which financial assistance is provided to Hong Kong students attending higher education institutions in Hong Kong and in the United Kingdom.

Vocational Training Council

The Vocational Training Council was set up in 1982 under the Vocational Training Council Ordinance. The council is composed of 22 members appointed by the Governor, four of whom are official members - the Secretary for Economic Services, the Director of Educa- tion, the Commissioner for Labour and the Director of Technical Education and Industrial

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