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Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Man-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, in the Legislative Council today (May 10):
Question:
Regarding higher education, will the Government inform this Council of the following from the 2000/2001 academic year to the present:
(a) the numbers of places in the following categories provided respectively by institutions funded by the University Grants Committee, the Vocational Training Council and other higher education institutions:
(i) degree-level programmes;
(ii) sub-degree programmes, with a breakdown by those at associate degree, higher diploma, professional diploma, diploma and below levels, as well as their respective percentages;
(iii) two-year and three-year programmes below the degree level, as well as the ratio between these two categories; and
(iv) programmes at pre-associate degree level (including foundation diploma courses), as well as the ratio between the numbers of places at this level and those at associate degree level, as well as the changes in such numbers each year;
(b) the respective numbers of entrants who were Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination certificate holders, Project Yi Jin graduates, secondary five school-leavers, or mature students, admitted to each of the above category of programmes each year and their respective percentages; and
(c) the respective annual numbers of secondary five and secondary seven school-leavers who left Hong Kong for further studies?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) & (b) The number of student places for full-time degree, sub-degree and pre-associate-degree programmes provided by the institutions funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC), the Vocational Training Council and other higher education institutions from the 2000/01 academic year onwards are at Annex A. The actual intake figures in respect of these programmes, broken down by the main admission qualifications attained by the entrants, from the 2000/01 academic year onwards are at Annex B. The number of places for sub-degree programmes, broken down by three broad types of programmes, are at Annex C. In a free market, the level and type of provision are determined by the institutions in response to demand. The Government does not differentiate between different types of sub-degree programmes in the provision of subsidy or support, and not all of the programmes offered in the market have received government support.
The total number of places provided under the two-year and three-year programmes at the sub-degree level from the 2000/01 academic year onwards and the ratio between the two categories are given in Annex D.
The number of places provided at the pre-associate degree (pre-AD) level (including foundation courses) and the associate degree (AD)/ sub-degree level, the ratio between them as well as the annual change of these places, from the 2000/01 academic year onwards are set out at Annex E.
(c) According to a survey conducted by the UGC in 2001, it is estimated that about 4500 students left Hong Kong for further overseas studies annually. The Government is now conducting a survey targeted at the 2004/05 school graduates.
Ends/Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:42
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