Speech at the Opening Reception of Going Global 2011

10 March 2011 (Thursday)

Opening Reception of Going Global 2011

Welcoming Remarks by SED

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. 

First of all, I would like to extend to you a warm welcome to Hong Kong.

Going Global is an international forum for exchange of ideas in international education.  All previous conferences were held in the United Kingdom.  This year is the first time the conference is being held outside the United Kingdom.  Given our unique position in blending Chinese and Western cultures and the fact that we are geographically well-situated, we are very pleased that Hong Kong has been chosen as the venue.

The world is being more interconnected and globalised than ever.  What distinguishes an individual from one another is the education and knowledge that he possesses.  What distinguishes a city from another is the human talent that it is able to nurture and attract.

In Hong Kong, we place heavy emphasis on education which has always been the largest single expenditure item in the government budget, consistently taking up more than 20% of the total budget.  We have embarked on a series of changes to our education system in the past decade to ensure our next generation is equipped with the skills to succeed in the globalised world.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is an exciting time in education in Hong Kong.  It is only timely that Going Global 2011 is being held here.  I wish you all a very fruitful conference in the next two days.  Beyond the information-sharing and networking opportunities, I sincerely hope that you will find time to enjoy Hong Kong, our scenery, shopping delights and of course our international cuisine.

Thank you very much.  Have a great evening.