The following is issued on behalf of the Education Commission:

The Education Commission (EC) reviewed the progress of work of its various sub-groups on the review of the education system at its meeting today (Tuesday).

The Chairman of the EC, Mr Antony Leung, said: "The various sub-groups are now considering the comments received from the public during the second stage of consultation and formulating detailed proposals and possible implementation timeframe. The EC will also set priorities among different proposed reform agenda items on the basis of its importance, urgency and implementation feasibility."

"In view of the complexity of the issues involved, we expect that we need to take several months to draw up the detailed proposals and prepare a draft report for public consultation," he noted.

"We understand that the public would like to know about the detailed proposals and implementation timeframe as early as possible. Our various sub-groups are making their best efforts to work on the review and we are satisfied with the progress they have made.

"We will consult the public as soon as we have completed the whole package of reform proposals and will take into account the public's views before finalizing our recommendations," he said.

Ends/Tuesday, January 25, 2000