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The Director of Education, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said today (May 22) that he was saddened by the death of a Secondary One student who was found to have drowned at the Civil Aid Service (CAS) Yuen Tun Camp in Tsuen Wan this afternoon.

Mr Cheung sent his deepest condolences to the student's family and said that the department would provide assistance to the family where possible.

Also saddened by the news of the boy's death and expressing sympathy with the boy's family was the Chief Staff Officer of CAS, Mr Robert Chan.

The 13-year-old boy was among a group of students from a secondary school in Tseung Kwan O who were attending the Smart Teen Challenge Camp co-organised by the Education Department (ED) and the CAS.

The case is being investigated by the Police.

A Government spokesman said that the Education Department and the CAS would also look into the accident and conduct a review to see if improvements were necessary to prevent a recurrence of similar mishap. He stressed that the Camp was supervised by experienced school teachers and qualified CAS trainers.

ED officers went to the Camp in the evening to provide counselling services to other Camp members. Appropriate arrangements have been made according to individual needs of the students including taking them home, or accompanying them for counselling support.

End/Tuesday, May 22, 2001

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