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Following is the full text of the speech (English only) by the Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, at the Business and Services Promotion Unit/South China Morning Post Web Design Competition 2000 Prize Presentation Ceremony today (June 3):
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, students and parents,
I officiate at many functions like this, and I always begin by saying that it gives me great pleasure to be here. But on this occasion let me assure you my pleasure is both genuine in nature and large in volume. This is the second year we have organised the Web Design Competition and I am pleased to see the excellent results once again.
As mentioned in the video-API we have just seen at the beginning of the ceremony, IT is the blueprint of our future and the driving force for our economic growth and expansion. It is important therefore that we nurture a technically savvy workforce to safeguard our economic future. We also need to start early and to make sure that the computer revolution reaches every child - indeed every person - in our community.
To do that, we have to equip our youngsters with the skills and aptitudes necessary to meet the challenges of the information age. Hence, in November 1998, we set out a five-year IT education strategy, and so far we have earmarked $3.2 billion for capital expenditure and $590 million for recurrent expenditure to implement the initiatives in stages. Our target is that within five years all our school children should be able to master the general application of IT and be equipped to become life-long learners with inquiring and creative minds. In addition, the Services Promotion Strategy Group which I chair, has included two initiatives related to IT education and training into this year's new Action Agenda. The Government will review IT education and training for all levels, including programmes for non-degree and sub-degree holders. We are determined to ensure that we have a well-trained, adaptable and versatile workforce that will meet the needs of the knowledge economy.
From what I have seen in the entries that our youngsters have created for this competition, I know that our future is in good hands. All the entries show a high level of creativity, innovation, and IT standards. I am very pleased with what I have seen.
I only wish I could hand out more medals and prizes. As Chairman of the Central Judging Panel, I can tell you - and I know I can speak for all the judges - it has not been easy to pick winners from amongst some 400 entries. I want to tell all of you who took part even if you are not collecting the top prize today, you are winners too. The fact that you took time out from your precious after school hours and school holidays to have meetings with your fellow team members, to do research together, to study and learn the latest IT techniques on your own initiative, and persevere through it all to complete the project, you all deserve commendation. Like our Olympic gold medallist Lee Lai Shan, you have reached a milestone and achieved plenty. I hope our sponsors will all continue to support this worthwhile exercise and come back here next year with more and even better prizes.
Last but not least, I want to salute the schools, the parents, and particularly the mentors. Without your support, I doubt very much that we would have seen such good work, such accomplishments.
People have always been HK's greatest asset and I am happy to see here today some of HK's best and brightest future assets. Well done, everybody.
End/Saturday, June 3, 2000
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