The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, attended the opening ceremony of the STEAM InnoArena at Fung Kai Innovative School during his district visit to North District today (December 11). He also held a meeting with members of the North District Council (NDC) and inspected the Lok Ma Chau Loop.
      
     Speaking at the opening ceremony of the STEAM InnoArena at Fung Kai Innovative School, Mr Yang said popular science education is vital to the development of innovation and technology. Students should learn basic coding concepts from an early age to strengthen their computational thinking and inspire them to apply digital creativity in their daily lives. He encouraged students to seize the chance to equip themselves and prepare to tackle future challenges.
      
     This was followed by a tour of the STEAM InnoArena, where he viewed a demonstration of virtual reality learning activities and listened to students talk about the fun of coding.
      
     Fung Kai Innovative School promotes the use of information and communications technology and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) for teaching and learning. It is also one of the pilot schools of CoolThink@JC initiated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of over $200 million. CoolThink@JC was launched with collaboration with the Education University of Hong Kong, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology of the United States and the City University of Hong Kong. Through a train-the-trainer programme, some 16 000 Primary Four to Six students from 32 local schools will receive training on computational thinking and coding skills, focusing on problem-solving skills and inspiring creativity.
      
     Accompanied by the Chairman of the NDC, Mr So Sai-chi, and the District Officer (North), Mr Chong Wing-wun, Mr Yang then met with members of the NDC to get a grasp of the latest developments of the district and discuss issues of mutual concern, including the development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop.
      
     Before concluding his visit, Mr Yang went to Lok Ma Chau Police Station and viewed the Loop from a lookout. Officers from the Planning Department and the Civil Engineering and Development Department reported on the planning and works progress of the Park. Mr Yang said he was gratified that with concerted efforts, the project was approved by the Town Planning Board in less than one year.
      
     The Park will be the largest innovation and technology platform ever established in Hong Kong and the most important infrastructure for driving R&D and re-industrialisation.
    

Ends/Monday, December 11, 2017
Issued at HKT 14:43

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