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Following his visits to Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Control Points last week, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, visited Lo Wu School for Hong Kong Children in Shenzhen and Fung Kai No 1 Primary School in Sheung Shui this morning (June 20) to better understand the situation of Hong Kong children studying in Mainland. It would be useful reference for the ongoing review of the population policy.
At Lo Wu School for Hong Kong Children in Shenzhen, Mr Tang inspected classes and toured school facilities ¡ª including the dormitory and canteen. A seminar with principal, teachers and local education officials provided him insight into the operation of the school, performance of students there and the overall situation of Hong Kong children studying in Shenzhen.
Mr Tang encouraged the school management to keep improving classes for Hong Kong children. Noting that the school has participated in the Secondary School Places Allocation System since 2009/2010, he hoped the school management could do the best in helping students switch to the secondary school curriculum in Hong Kong.
Due to a rising number of children born in Hong Kong of Mainland residents, Mr Tang urged the Shenzhen authorities to pay attention to their learning and strengthen its communication with Hong Kong.
Luohu School for Hong Kong Children was established in August 2001. It is one of the six schools catered for Hong Kong students studying in Shenzhen. At present, there are about 600 students in the school and 80 per cent are Hong Kong children.
Mr Tang then proceeded to Fung Kai No 1 Primary School in Sheung Shui, where he chatted with cross-boundary students to gain a better understanding of their daily travelling across the boundary to attend schools in Hong Kong. He also had a thorough exchange with the school management on the trend of cross-boundary students, especially students born in Hong Kong of Mainland residents. He was informed of the operation arrangements and concerns of schools with intake of students born in Hong Kong of Mainland residents.
With regard to transport issues faced by cross-boundary students, Mr Tang said that the Government had been reviewing from time to time the reasonable number of Closed Area Permits issued for cross-boundary students and school coaches. Ways to improve facilities and divert cross-boundary students to various control points are being actively considered, with a view to providing a safe and convenient environment for students.
Fung Kai No.1 Primary School was founded by Fung Kai Public School in 1932. There are about 360 cross-boundary students in the school, representing about 47 per cent of the total number of students.
Speaking after his visit, Mr Tang noted that a tour of the facilities on site and a frank exchange with school management and students enabled him to have a deeper understanding of Hong Kong children studying in Mainland. He said that it also provided a useful reference for a review of the population policy.
Ends/Monday, June 20, 2011
Issued at HKT 21:18
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