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    The task force set up by the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) completed its mission to render assistance to the students affected by the errors in the marking of the Oral paper of English Language (Syllabus B) of the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination.

    The Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, said today (August 22), "Our task is to ensure that no candidates would be disadvantaged in the Secondary Six (S6) admission process. With their anxiety and needs at heart, we have made every effort to reach them as early as practicable."

    "All the affected candidates meeting the requirements for S6 admission were subsequently contacted. Of them, 17 sought our assistance. After days of liaison, all of them have been offered appropriate arrangements, such as returning to their own schools or switching to another school for further studies."

    "On completion of this difficult task, I would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues for their high efficiency and hard work as well as the secondary school heads and teaching staff concerned for their co-operation and support in providing additional school places and making special arrangements for the students," he added.

    The task force, composed of over 20 EMB officers, handled more than 2,800 enquiries (or 400 per day on average) since it came into operation.

Ends/Monday, August 22, 2005

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