ENG-1987 — Page 163

EDUCATION

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1987. This was attributable mainly to the introduction of the Provisional Acceptance Scheme by the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The authority also assumes responsibility for conducting a large number of overseas examinations on behalf of various examining bodies in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. These examinations include the GCE, the Test of English as a Foreign Language, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examinations, and many others which enable students to acquire academic and professional qualifications.

Hong Kong Students in Britain

The Students Division of the Hong Kong Government Office in London is responsible for the welfare of Hong Kong students and nurses in training in the United Kingdom. The division liaises with the Education Department regarding the admission of students from Hong Kong to institutions in the United Kingdom and problems encountered by on-course students. It also works closely with the Secretariat of the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee, assisting the latter in administering the United Kingdom-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme.

The division monitors developments in education in the United Kingdom and, in order to promote the interests of Hong Kong students, establishes and maintains close relations with universities, polytechnics and colleges, British government departments, local educa- tion authorities, the British Council, welfare organisations and, in the case of trainee nurses, medical authorities. In addition to advising and assisting individual students, it maintains close contact with the Hong Kong student community through college-based student societies.

Hong Kong Students Overseas

The Overseas Students and Scholarships Section of the Education Department gives advice to students wishing to further their education overseas and supplies information on educational establishments in Britain and other countries.

Altogether 4 254 students went to Britain during the school year 1986–7; 3 405 went to Canada; 2 245 to the United States and 812 to Australia.

British Council

The aim of the British Council in Hong Kong is to promote an enduring understanding of Britain, its language, its education and its culture.

Perhaps the best known of the council's activities in Hong Kong are those of the English Language Centre which has 90 qualified teachers. During the year a total of 25 205 students enrolled on 12-week courses of three hours per week. A one-month summer school was run for 5 700 secondary school students. Another area of activity was teacher training, where 191 primary school teachers and 185 secondary school teachers sponsored by the Educa- tion Department were trained in the year. In-house training of council teachers continued. The teaching of English for companies in Hong Kong has been expanded and is seen as a growth market.

The council has this year been awarded two contracts by the Hong Kong Government for sending 70 local English-language teachers to the United Kingdom for a month and for bringing to Hong Kong on a two-year pilot project up to 84 native speaking English teachers to work in Hong Kong schools. Six scholarships were awarded to outstanding students at different levels of the English Language Centre to enable them to pursue their studies in the UK.