The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, today (April 22) visited Queen Elizabeth School to inspect the preparatory work of an examination centre for holding the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination and to learn about the anti-epidemic precautionary measures in setting up venues and examination arrangements.

     Accompanied by the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Mr Cheung received a briefing by Principal Eric Chan on anti-epidemic precautionary measures before candidates and examination personnel enter examination centres, such as requiring all candidates and examination personnel to wear masks, make health declarations, check body temperature, disinfect the soles of their shoes and clean hands with alcohol-based sanitiser.

     He then visited the school hall to understand the preparation required for an examination centre, such as disinfection and widening the distance between candidates' seats to 1.8 metres as far as possible. He was also briefed on the arrangements for candidates during the sessional break and the use of washrooms, and how these arrangements help ensure that social distancing is maintained among candidates.

     Mr Cheung was pleased to know that the Education Bureau had earlier distributed masks to candidates and made available about 200,000 handy bottles of alcohol-based sanitiser for candidates at the examination centres. The bureau has also set down fallback dates, should the HKDSE Examination need to be halted during the examination period if the epidemic situation worsens.

     He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to colleagues of the Education Bureau, relevant government departments and the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, principals, teachers and other school staff for the additional work they have done to protect the health and safety of candidates by stepping up anti-epidemic precautionary measures at examination centres.

     "There are over 50 000 candidates, 21 000 examination personnel and about 400 examination centres in the HKDSE Examination this year. The Government will accord top priority to the health of candidates and examination personnel, and spare no effort in ensuring that anti-epidemic precautionary measures are well implemented at all examination centres," Mr Cheung stressed.

     "The HKDSE Examination this year will take place during the epidemic which could make candidates stressful. I encourage candidates to tackle the examinations positively and optimistically.  I also remind candidates to heighten their anti-epidemic awareness and strictly follow examination arrangements to ensure that the HKDSE Examination can be completed in a safe environment," he said.

     He appealed to all employers to allow their staff to follow flexible working hours so as to divert passenger flows on public transport during the morning peak hours between 7 and 8 am, thus enabling candidates to reach examination centres on time (most examinations begin at 8:30am). This is especially important on the examination days of the four core subjects (covering the vast majority of candidates), namely April 27 to 29, May 2, 4 and 5.

Ends/Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Issued at HKT 14:10

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