asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the English language is being taught in evening classes in Hong Kong; to what extent the students are eventually employed in Hong Kong's commerce and industry; and what percentage of the students is Chinese.

There are approximately 38,500 adult students studying English part-time in evening classes under various auspices as follows:

Hong Kong University extra mural classes	1,000
Education Department
Evening Institute	6,000
Evening secondary schools	1,500
Private Sector
Evening secondary schools	10,000
Evening tutorial classes	20,000
	38,500

Details of the employment status of these 38,500 adult students are not available, but it is believed that the majority are employed in commercial or industrial activities during the day and are seeking to better their prospects by studying English in the evening. At least 99 per cent. of these adult evening students are Chinese.