§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD BEAUMONT OF WHITLEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Hong Kong Government intend to make grants towards the cost of text books and stationery for children occupying places in Government-aided primary schools.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, the Colony's Financial Secretary indicated in his Budget speech on February 28 that the Hong Kong Government are considering assistance to children who have free places in Government and aided primary schools to help meet the cost of text books and stationery. I am unable to add to that statement at the present time.
§ LORD BEAUMONT OF WHITLEYMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his satisfactory reply. May I ask him whether he is aware that the cost per child for books and stationery can at the moment amount to between 40 and 50 Hong Kong dollars per year, and that in a large family this can cause great hardship? I would further ask, therefore, whether Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to use their influence with the Hong Kong Government to see that a decision is taken to go ahead with this reform?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the noble Lord is aware that there is a Government in Hong Kong with an Executive 1222 Council and a Legislative Council, and I do not think it would be right to use influence, if by "influence" we mean pressure, on decisions that they must make in taking into account the needs of these schoolchildren and the moneys that are available. But I can assure the noble Lord, from my own experience of the Government there, that this is a matter which they have very much in mind.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I welcome my noble friend's reply, which confirms what he said on December 19 when we had a debate on this subject. In view of the wretched standard of wages of the mass of the people in Hong Kong and their enthusiasm for education, would he press for a decision on this matter as rapidly as possible?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, this matter is under very active consideration.
§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, would it not be wise to leave questions of pressure on the Hong Kong Government to the Liberal members of that Government?
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, can my noble friend tell me what is the degree of literacy in Hong Kong?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, Hong Kong is now a Colony of some 4 million people. It has come to that figure from 600,000 in 1945, and I should not like to hazard a guess about what the percentage is. I believe, however, that it is relatively small.