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Reading is an important tool for self-education and continuing education which enhances our cultural attainment.

Over one hundred students from the secondary and primary students today (July 4) received prizes at a prize-presentation ceremony for their outstanding performance in the "Shun Hing Reading Award Scheme 2000/2001" jointly organized by the Education Department, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and sponsored by the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund Limited.

Also present at the Prize Presentation Ceremony were Anthony Tong Kai-hong, Deputy Director of Education and Mr. David Wong, Vice-Chairman of the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund Limited.

"The mission of Hong Kong Public Library System is to provide information, support life-long learning, and enrich cultural life. We aim to help everyone who wants to learn," said Mr Michael Mak Kin-lam, Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services at the Prize Presentation Ceremony.

"To cope with the growing trend of using Internet service to access information, we have introduced a new initiative of Website Report together with Book Report and Book Design in our scheme for students to catch up with learning and to express their feeling in a new media in this cyber age," he added.

It was the tenth year that Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund sponsored the reading award scheme. "I am pleased to see that the number of participating schools is growing steadily. We hope that students can make use of this valuable opportunity to read more efficiently," said David Wong, Vice-Chairman of the Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund Limited.

In addition, Anthony Tong Kai-hong, Deputy Director of Education said, "Reading is definitely a good habit as it broadens our vision, strengthens our knowledge and equips us to meet the requirements of a knowledge-based community."

"The scheme emphasizes on two aspects, including cultivation of interest in creative learning and support life-long learning which ties in well with our main theme", he continued.

The aim of the Scheme is to help students to develop good reading habits, improve their language skills, utilize school library and public libraries resources, and also promote reading culture within schools.

The response to the reading scheme was overwhelming as 218 primary schools and 314 secondary schools actively participated. The scheme comprised four categories including Chinese/English Book Report, Website Report and Book Cover Design. While primary students from P.5 and P.6 could submit one best entry to compete in either the "Chinese Book Report" or "Book Cover Design" category, S.1 to S.3 and S.4 to S.5 students from secondary schools were invited to submit their works in all groups.

Winners of the First, Second and Third Prizes and those receiving High Commendation were given a cash coupon, a trophy and a certificate of merit. On the other hand, certificates of appreciation were awarded to pupils whose book reports/ cover designs are of satisfactory standards.

End/ Wednesday, July 4, 2001

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