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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the opening ceremony of the International Education Forum and Expo at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning (July 14):
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is indeed my great pleasure to welcome you all to Hong Kong for this International Education Forum and Expo.
I extend my personal thanks to our officiating guests and to all the dedicated scholars, educators, parents and students who are contributing to, and participating in, this milestone event.
Hong Kong has long recognised the importance of education - that is why every child is entitled to 12 years of free education here. Education is the largest expenditure item on our books. It takes up more than one-fifth of the entire government spending every year. In the current financial year it amounts to US$7 billion in recurrent spending alone.
Education spending is our top priority because our future depends on it. Education provides our young people with the knowledge and experience they need to contribute to society. It helps lift young people out of poverty and provides them with opportunities to build a better life. It empowers young people to pursue their dreams, and to become the leaders of tomorrow.
We aim to nurture and cultivate our children with learning. Likewise, our education system also needs to grow, change and adapt to new demands and needs.
Hong Kong's New Academic Structure - implemented since September 2009 - is a key education reform that aims to better prepare our students for the demands of a dynamic, knowledge-based global village. Your presence here today is part of our plan to introduce our New Academic Structure directly to you, as education policymakers and educators from around the world. Thank you for coming to join us, and for taking part in this initiative.
At this International Education Forum and Expo, we are hosting our first Education Ministerial Roundtable. We are honoured to have attracted such a substantial number of Education Ministers to the Roundtable. Their participation underscores the importance that all of our governments place on education. In this regard, we are all on the same page, and reading from the same book.
To provide you with some food for thought and discussion, we have lined up an impressive selection of keynote speeches, seminars, presentations and workshops that revolve around the theme of "Learning Journey for the Globalised World".
The Expo will showcase the diverse learning opportunities, as well as the multiple study and career pathways within and outside Hong Kong, brought about by the New Academic Structure.
We certainly hope that this rich variety of speakers and activities will provide fresh impetus for advancements in education and human resources both in Hong Kong and around the world.
I am confident, too, that stronger bonds will be established between all of us who share the common goal of nurturing young talent for the 21st century.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the dedicated colleagues who have worked very hard to ensure the success of the International Education Forum and Expo. I wish the event a great success, and all guests and participants a most rewarding and enjoyable time in Hong Kong. Thank you.
Ends/Thursday, July 14, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:18
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