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A total of 380 teachers and students from Beijing arrived in Hong Kong today (July 13) for a three-day educational and cultural journey.
It is the first programme jointly organised by the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Beijing Municipal Education Commission and the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region, with the assistance of the National Education Centre.
Entitled "Journey of Youths to Hong Kong and Macao -- Summer camp via express train for secondary school students of Beijing, Hong Kong and Macao 2006", the programme aims to provide opportunities for participants, to keep Beijing students abreast of Hong Kong's history and current situation, and to enhance the awareness of national identity among the youth of the two places.
The visiting teachers and students will engage in various educational and cultural activities including visiting the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and two secondary schools to have exchanges with local teachers and students.
Other activities include a welcoming dinner and visits to scenic spots and places of historical value as a means to enhance their understanding of the HKSAR.
More than 100 of Hong Kong's Secondary Four to Secondary Six students will help receive the Mainland visitors.
The programme is an extension of the "Express Train Interflow Activity for Students of Beijing, Hong Kong and Macao" organised by the EMB and the Beijing Municipal Education Commission in 2005, which attracted more than 600 students and teachers from some 120 secondary schools.
The 2006 programme is a step further to sustain the interflow activities last year and to foster friendship and links between the youth of the two places.
Teachers and students from Beijing will travel to Macao after the three-day visit to Hong Kong and will return to Beijing by express train on July 17 from Hong Kong.
Invited to officiate at an opening ceremony and welcoming dinner for visiting students and teachers today were the Deputy Secretary of Education and Manpower, Mr Cheng Man-yiu, the Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, Mr Luo Jie, and the Deputy Director of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Ms Leong Lai.
Ends/Thursday, July 13, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:24
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