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EDUCATION

All tertiary institutions except the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Lingnan College operate extra-mural departments or divisions of continuing educa- tion. These offer an enormous variety of courses, some at degree level, in such areas as languages, translation, business management and professional development for teachers, social workers and others.

The Education Department provides formal courses of remedial and second chance education for adults at primary and secondary level, and courses of personal development at post-secondary level. Less formal activities including hobby and fitness classes are provided in adult education and recreation centres run by the department. During the year government subventions supported 363 adult education projects organised by 67 voluntary agencies.

The British Council

The aim of the British Council in Hong Kong is to offer British skills and expertise in the key areas of science and technology, the arts and English language teaching and learning, to meet the challenge of Hong Kong's changing needs into the next century.

English language teaching is one of the council's major programmes in Hong Kong. Through its general and business English course, distance learning language programmes with Radio Television Hong Kong, summer schools and teacher training courses, the English Language Centre provided English language learning opportunities for over 42 000 -Hong Kong residents in 1992. In addition, the council arranged for 100 teacher trainees from the colleges of education to visit the United Kingdom for total immersion courses jointly funded by the Education and Manpower Branch.

The council provides access to British expertise in helping to develop Hong Kong's industry through promoting technology transfer, including working closely with Industry Department and Hong Kong Polytechnic on post-experience training, and a feasibility study on a Science Park for Hong Kong. The council is also working in close collaboration with the government, higher education and other organisations in areas such as the environment, law, planning and accountancy, in some cases through schemes linking Hong Kong and Britain with China. The annual Science Lecture Series for Young People took place at the Science Museum on the theme of the environment and an annual scholarship in environmental science was awarded, co-funded with the Swire Educational Trust and the Aberdeen University Hong Kong Association.

The council's library and information services are open to all Hong Kong residents and cover all aspects of British life and culture, with an emphasis on English literature and English language teaching. The collections include books, magazines, newspapers, videos, CD-ROM, music on CD and audio tapes. The library facilities are computerised and free to students of the council's English Language Centre. Others are charged a nominal annual subscription.

The Educational Counselling Service provides free and impartial advice to students on educational opportunities available in Britain. In 1992, 28 000 students used the service for information on studying in British universities and colleges.

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