SED to visit Nanjing
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     The Secretary for Education (SED), Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, will begin a duty visit to Nanjing tomorrow (December 5). During the weekend, he will accompany more than 260 students and teachers from Hong Kong secondary schools to participate in the Mainland exchange activities of "Passing on the Torch" Platform Programme Series: An Exploration into the History and Culture in Nanjing.

     After arriving in Nanjing tomorrow afternoon, Mr Ng will pay courtesy calls on leaders of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education as well as the Jiangsu Youth Federation to exchange views on education and youth-related matters. He will also meet with some Hong Kong students currently pursuing studies in Nanjing.

     During the weekend, Mr Ng will accompany the students and teachers from Hong Kong secondary schools to participate in a series of Mainland exchange activities to learn more about the history and culture of Nanjing, including the Nanjing Massacre and other important historical events. The students and teachers will also conduct life-wide learning activities at a number of historical and cultural sites, such as the "Nanjing Treaty" Historical Gallery, the Nanjing Museum and Dr Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum. Two experienced history teachers who have received the Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence will join the study tour as facilitators to provide guidance to students in their history project and share their own learning experience.

     Mr Ng and the participants will also visit Nanjing University (NU). In addition to touring the campus and learning more about the Mainland higher education system, they will listen to a thematic talk by a professor of NU's Department of History and hear some Hong Kong students share their experiences in study and daily life on the Mainland.

     Mr Ng said, "Earlier this year, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress designated December 13 as Nanjing Massacre Memorial Day to commemorate the victims who died in the Nanjing Massacre and to remind people of this piece of history and the importance of peace. The visit by Hong Kong students and teachers to Nanjing for exchanges at this point of time can enhance students' motivation in learning Chinese history." He expressed the hope that students could learn more about our nation's history and situation from multiple perspectives.

     Officials accompanying the SED to visit Nanjing will include the Administrative Assistant to the SED, Mr Kenneth Cheng, and the Principal Inspector (National Education Support Programme), Ms Gloria Chan. They will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon of December 7. While Mr Ng is away from Hong Kong, the Under Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, will be the Acting SED.

Ends/Thursday, December 4, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:00

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