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The Government today (May 14) announces the appointment of members to the steering committee and investment committee of the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund and implementation details of a number of measures under the education hub policy.
In appointing members to the two committees of the fund, the Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, said, "I am confident that with the appointments of the committees, the fund will be able to recognise the achievements of quality students, increase Hong Kong's attractiveness as a regional education hub, and in doing so, accomplish our goal of attracting outstanding local students to advance their studies here at home, and meritorious non-local students to pursue higher education opportunities here in Hong Kong."
The members of the steering committee appointed are as follows:
- Mrs Pamela Chan Wong Shui, member of the University Grants Committee (UGC);
- Mr Chung Shui-ming, director of an accounting firm;
- Professor Nyaw Mee-kau, vice-president of a local university;
- Mr Richard Tang Yat-sun, chairman and managing director of a company;
- Dr Carrie Willis Yau Sheung-mui, executive director of the Vocational Training Council; and
- Ms Shirley Wong She-lai, principal of a secondary school.
The members of the investment committee appointed are as follows:
- Mr Patrick Chan Kwok-wai, executive director and chief financial officer of a local bank; and
- Mr Clifton Chiu Chi-cheong, chairman of a company and member of the UGC.
The steering committee, chaired by the Secretary for Education or his representative, advises the trustee of the fund on the policies and operation of the fund. The investment committee, also chaired by the Secretary for Education or his representative, with the Permanent Secretary for Education and the Director of Accounting Services or their respective representatives as ex-officio members, advises the trustee on the investment of the fund. All members are appointed for a term of two years from May 15, 2008, to May 14, 2010.
The fund, with a capital of $1 billion, was established in February 2008. It will support the award of Government scholarships to local and non-local students in full-time, publicly-funded programmes at degree or above levels. The first batch of scholarships will be awarded in the 2008/09 academic year.
In the meantime, the Immigration Department will from May 19 begin the implementation of the new measures under the education hub policy regarding immigration arrangements for non-local students who have graduated from full-time, locally-accredited programmes at degree level or above, short-term courses, and non-local student employment.
Under the new measures, non-local fresh graduates who wish to apply to stay and work in Hong Kong after graduation are not required to secure an offer of employment upon application. They may be granted 12 months' stay on time limitation without other conditions of stay provided that normal immigration requirements are met, and during which they are free to take up or change employment in Hong Kong. For non-local students who had previously graduated in Hong Kong and wish to return to work, their applications will be favourably considered so long as the job they have secured is at a level commonly taken up by degree holders and the remuneration package is set at market level. They may be granted 12 months' stay on time limitation without other conditions of stay provided that normal immigration requirements are met. Their stay will be extended after this period if they are still employed under the conditions mentioned above.
All non-local students will be allowed to pursue short-term studies in programmes offered by Hong Kong higher education institutions with degree-awarding powers, provided that the cumulative duration of short-term studies should not exceed 180 days within any 12-month period.
The Immigration Department will also implement the measures to allow non-local students of full-time, locally accredited programmes at degree level or above to take up study-related internships as arranged or endorsed by institutions, as well as to take up part-time on-campus jobs for up to 20 hours per week, and off-campus summer jobs during the summer months of June to August.
Ends/Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:15
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