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In the new globalised era, people who can work with others all over the world are needed in order to rise to the challenges ahead, the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore, Mr Fong Ngai, said today (July 27).
Speaking at the farewell ceremony of the Singapore leg of the Singapore - Hong Kong Exchange Programme, Mr Fong said that we live in an interconnected world and there are many issues on which we need to work together for a solution.
He said the exchange programme reflects belief in the need to prepare our youth for the new era.
"Through the exchange programme, our students are given the opportunity to cultivate respect for differences in culture and broaden their perspectives.
"Singapore and Hong Kong share the vision that nurturing talents for the world with increasing human connectivity and growing information flow is the single most important factor in the development of a knowledge-based economy," he said.
More than 1,000 students from Singapore and Hong Kong have joined the exchange programme since its inception in 2000. The programme is aimed at benefiting both teachers and students by promoting educational and cultural exchange between participating schools.
This year's programme involves six secondary schools from Singapore and eight secondary schools from Hong Kong. The Hong Kong students taking part in the programme have stayed with host families and joined a mix of cultural and academic programmes lasting for two weeks. Teachers in the programme have been attached to the participating schools. The participants from Singapore schools will make a similar visit to Hong Kong in November.
Ends/Friday, July 27, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:56
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