*******************************************************
The Secretary for Education (SED), Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, today (July 18), together with officials of Beijing and Macau, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Beijing, Hong Kong and Macau Student Exchange Summer Camp 2015 at Beihang University in Beijing.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Ng said, "Our country has a vast territory, profound history and culture as well as rapid development of economy, science and technology. We should be more concerned about its latest development."
"This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Beijing, Hong Kong and Macau Student Exchange Summer Camp since its inception in 2005. Over the years, the camp has been well-received by schools, teachers, parents and students, and become an effective exchange platform for young people of the three places.
"This year the summer camp is being held in Beijing. Participants can experience the daily life of Beijing students through visiting local institutions for learning and exchange activities, learn more about our country's history, architecture, art and culture through visiting historic monuments and modern architecture, and understand better the latest development of our country through listening to thematic talks and experts' sharing," he added.
Mr Ng believed that through participating in summer camp activities, students from Beijing, Hong Kong and Macau would build up genuine friendship and help promote collaborations and exchanges among the three places in the long run.
Participating in the eight-day summer camp this year are 570 secondary students from the three places, including 200 Secondary Five students from 92 Hong Kong secondary schools and 20 accompanying teachers.
During his stay in Beijing, Mr Ng also took the opportunity to meet with some Hong Kong students pursuing studies on the Mainland, learning more about their study and daily life and giving them words of encouragement.
The SED will return to Hong Kong tonight. Accompanying officers include the Deputy Secretaries for Education, Mr Brian Lo and Dr Catherine KK Chan, and the Administrative Assistant to the SED, Mr Rick Chan.
Ends/Saturday, July 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:30
NNNN
