The following is issued on behalf of the Education Commission:

In response to press enquiries, the Chairman of the Education Commission (EC), Dr Rosanna Wong Yick-ming, today (March 26) said that she welcomed the report on "Higher Education Review" issued by the University Grants Committee (UGC). She pointed out that the report has far-reaching impact on the future development of higher education in Hong Kong and is worthy of detailed and thorough discussion by the community.

"I am pleased to note that the UGC has conducted a comprehensive review on higher education, which is in line with the direction of the education reform," Dr Wong said.

"The report has set out a series of recommendations on the future development of higher education to tie in with the changes of society in the 21st Century as well as to strive for excellence," she said.

"These recommendations have provided a very useful basis for deliberations in the community on the future development of higher education in Hong Kong," she added.

"The continued thriving development of the higher education system is essential to the grooming of talents in Hong Kong. We will carefully consider the consultation views on the recommendations put forward in the report, and liaise closely with the UGC," she said.

Ends/Tuesday, March 26, 2002