In order to improve education and optimize human resources, Chief Executive Donald Tsang stated in his first Policy Address that education reform and schemes to attract talented people will be gradually implemented in the coming few years.

Tsang reaffirmed that the government "will not cut back on total spending on education". Regarding secondary and higher education reform, the government is consulting various sectors of society on details for implementation.

The "3+3+4 academic structure" is planned for implementation in September 2009.

Beginning this fall, public sector primary schools with at least 12 classes will receive more resources so as to improve the teacher-to-class ratio, which in turn relieves teacher's workload and amends teaching effectiveness.

A pilot study on "small class teaching" has been started by the Education and Manpower Bureau and will serve as a reference for the government as a possibility of its territory-wide implementation.

Tsang emphasized that "bilingual and trilingual proficiency" must be enhanced so as to provide quality labour for the mainland and the world. Chinese and English levels of students from Primary One to Secondary Five will be routinely evaluated and resources will be geared towards reinforcing language education.

"Standards-referenced examinations" for both languages in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination will be implemented in 2007. A voluntary assessment on Putonghua listening and oral skills for students enrolled in Secondary Three or above will be put into practice in the same year.

In conjunction with the above initiatives, English and Putonghua teachers have to reach the language benchmarks by September 2006.

Already in place is a Professional Development Incentive Grant Scheme to encourage language teachers to attain higher professional qualifications in language teaching.

To continue the effort to attract quality students from overseas, the government plans to be "more proactive" in capturing talented individuals from the mainland and around the world to come and settle here.

It is considering whether a new admission scheme could be introduced in 2006, under which people who meet specific eligibility criteria can remain in Hong Kong for a certain period of time. They will not need to get a local job offer prior to arrival. They can then decide whether they would like to develop their career here on a long-term basis during their stay.

Attention has also been given to a comprehensive population policy so as to safeguard the quality of Hong Kong's population for "the future demands of a knowledge-based economy".

The Task Force on Population Policy will monitor demographic changes and recommend policy responses.

(HK Edition 10/13/2005 page3)