CO_1030_1459_HONG_KONG_CONSTITUTIONAL_DEVELOPMENT_1963_1965 — Page 102

Page 102

distribution of schools), there is a flourishing cultural live and an intellectual and cultural standard, for which the influx of so many refugee intellectuals is partly responsible. The honest if questionable thing for the report to have said is therefore that Hong Kong cannot at present afford to educate more than 25% or so of the Chinese masses up to form 5 standard, but that we should advance the figure as fast as we

can.

The Government's prescut proposals with reference to the Marsh- Sompoon aveport are also open to the charge of racial discrimination. Since the report was published they have apparently been forced to hedge on the discriminatory proposals (above) in the report and propose

to sweeten the pill of 100% promotions to secondary Government schools

for European children, check by jowl in the report with a 15 overall

one for Chinese children by charging triple fees in the secondary

schools to which Europeans go. This proposal is doubly unfair.

would impose a sudden heavy burden on local Europeans who cannot afford

to send their children home, as senior civil servants, amongst others,

are assisted by their employer to do. And it would still involve

racial discrimination on the part of the State in favour of a small

group of taxpayers. In the circumstances of Hong Kong the clear duty

It

of the State is to leave the provision of racially limited schools to

private enterprise. With the present generous grants to non-profit-

making schools there is a practicable possibility for racially limited

school of this class of the present time. There will also be a practicable

and practicshle, flovernment grants are entended under proper safe guards

to all profit-making schools.

Another subject which calls for criticism is the Government's

idea of the Ombudsman as set out in His Excellency's speech on the

Budget. It is there stated that "the Ombudsman is not charged to

criticise the whole conduct of the Government's affairs (let us call

this A) but rather to advise members of the Legislature on the manner

Page 102 executive powers conferred by the Legislaturage 1 Carfi44out

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