The following is issued on behalf of the Education Commission:

The Education Commission (EC) announced today (April 20) that the consultation period for the consultation document on Review of Medium of Instruction for Secondary Schools and Secondary School Places Allocation would be extended by two months to July 2, 2005.

The consultation document was released by the EC on February 3, 2005 for a three-month public consultation according to the original plan. To allow more time for the public to discuss the proposals in the consultation document and to express their views, the EC has decided to extend the consultation period to July 2 as recommended by the Working Group on Review of Secondary School Places Allocation and Medium of Instruction for Secondary Schools. The Working Group will proactively meet with more stakeholders and have in-depth discussion with them.

For the full text of the consultation document, please visit the website of the EC at http://www.e-c.edu.hk. All sectors of the community are welcome to forward their views by post (Room 1101, 11/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong), fax (2537 4591 / 2179 5492) or e-mail (educom@emb.gov.hk) to the Secretariat of the Working Group on or before July 2, 2005.

Ends/Wednesday, April 20, 2005