The following is issued on behalf of the Education Commission:

The two working groups set up under the Education Commission (EC) to review the entire academic structure in the territory met for the first time last week to discuss inter alia, the terms of reference and the scope of the review.

Speaking after the EC meeting today (Monday), the Chairman, the Hon Antony Leung said: "The Working Group on Pre-primary and Basic Education and the Working Group on Post-Secondary 3 Education will work closely with one another in the coming months.

"The chairmen of the two working groups will also make regular progress reports to EC.

"To exchange further views on the overall objectives of the review and other salient issues related to the review, we will hold a 'brain-storming' session with the two working groups in June in the form of an 'enlarged EC meeting'," he added.

At today's meeting, EC also discussed the consultation document on the review of the education-related executive and advisory bodies published by the Education and Manpower Bureau in early May.

Mr Leung said: "We welcome the proposals to strengthen the roles of advisory bodies and to improve their working relationships. At the meeting, we discussed the need to strengthen and clarify the co-ordinating role of EC.

"We strongly value the administration's emphasis on its partnership with various advisory bodies and encourage other education bodies and individuals to give their views before the end of the consultation exercise on May 27, 1998."

EC also noted the encouraging progress of the Quality Education Fund Steering Committee. More than 2,000 applications have been received in response to the first call of applications to the fund, which closed on April 30, 1998.

Ends/Monday, May 25, 1998