SED urges students to learn about Shanghai's culture and latest developments (with photo)
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     The Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, today (August 10) called on students who will participate in the "Passing on the Torch: Exploring and Embracing Chinese Culture National Education Exchange Programme" cum "Hong Kong and Macao Student Tour of the Shanghai World Expo" to use the opportunity to see for themselves Shanghai's history, culture, economic and urban developments in order to broaden their vision, develop an open mind and enrich their learning.

     Officiating at a ceremony to launch the two exchange programmes, Mr Suen said, "This tour is the largest ever student exchange tour since the reunification."  He noted that 4,700 students and teachers from Hong Kong and 500 from Macao would visit a wide variety of sites during the tour.

     He said, "I must sincerely thank the Central People's Government for the care shown towards the students, the support of the Ministry of Education, the arrangements made by the Ministry of Railways and the co-ordination work of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the warm reception by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. Their assistance had led to the smooth conduct of the activity."

     Other officiating guests at the launch ceremony, held at the Academic Community Hall of the Hong Kong Baptist University, included the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR, Mr Wang Zhi-min; the Chairman of the Commission on Youth, Mr Bunny Chan; the "Passing on the Torch: Exploring and Embracing Chinese Culture National Education Exchange Programme" deputy leaders, Mr Joseph Lee and Mr Andrew Yao; the Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Grace Lui; the Deputy Secretary for Education, Mrs Michelle Wong; and the Director General of Youth Department, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR, Ms Han Shu-xia.

     The "Passing on the Torch: Exploring and Embracing Chinese Culture National Education Exchange Programme", organised by the Education Bureau, is an initiative to deepen national education to support the pledge outlined in the Chief Executive's 2009/10 Policy Address. At the invitation of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, students and teachers, as well as members of several youth groups from Hong Kong and Macao, joined the "Hong Kong Macao Student Tour of the Shanghai World Expo" to visit the World Expo in Shanghai.

     The 4,700 teachers and students as well as members of several youth groups from Hong Kong and 500 from Macao will leave for Shanghai in groups starting from mid-August for a five-day exchange tour. Some participants will travel by the Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed railway to Shanghai. This arrangement will enable them to learn about the rapid development of the Mainland's high-speed rail system.

     During their stay in Shanghai, the teachers and students will visit the Expo site, cultural establishments, heritage sites and major enterprises to gain an understanding of the history, culture and latest developments in the municipality and the Yangtze River Delta. It is hoped that students will as a result enhance their knowledge of the situation on the Mainland and their sense of belonging to the motherland.

     The two tours are organised by the Education Bureau, the Home Affairs Bureau, the Office for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Education, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR and the Office for Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government.

Ends/Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:39

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