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The Permanent Secretary for Education, Mr Raymond Wong, today (October 4) encouraged students to learn more about China and to nurture their sense of belonging to the country while celebrating the National Day.
Officiating at the opening ceremony of the National Day Extravaganza organised by the Education Bureau, Mr Wong said:"Our country is in a celebratory mood. The theme of our national day celebration this year is the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. It is our honour to have national athletes travel to Hong Kong to celebrate and share with us their valuable experience, as well as to give demonstrations."
"Our country is becoming more prosperous with an ever-rising status in the international arena. Chinese youngsters should give more thoughts on how to serve their country for a brighter future in the 21st century. They should learn more about our country and its culture before they can make contributions. It is also important for them to understand that the development of the country is closely related to that of Hong Kong," he said.
Students from kindergartens and primary and secondary schools performed gymnastics, martial arts, singing, dancing, lion, and dragon dance and other performances during today's extravaganza. Some students were excited to have the opportunity to talk to renowned Chinese athletes, including table tennis athlete Liu Wei, and fencers Xiao Aihua and Dong Zhaozhi.
The event, which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai, attracted more than 2,000 students and teachers from some 40 kindergartens and primary and secondary schools.
The National Day Extravaganza was one of the key programmes organised by the Education Bureau in celebration of the national day 2007.
Other programmmes in the series include talks on Basic Law, seminars by Mainland scholars and the Award Scheme for Student Leaders of Hong Kong: National Education Course.
Ends/Thursday, October 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:36
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