 |
7 February 2000
|
| Mr. Li Ka-shing, a strong supporter
of life-long education, believes that learning from experience
is just as important as learning from books. With the support
of the Education Department, the Li Ka Shing Foundation has
donated HK$7 million to sponsor a Millennium Study Tour for
1,000 local students this summer. The senior secondary students
will travel in small groups to the mainland, Southeast Asia,
Europe, America, and Australia to experience different cultures
and customs. The Tours will focus on environmental protection
and new technologies, and every itinerary will be carefully
planned to create a meaningful summer activity for the students. |
|
| According to a LKS Foundation
Spokesman, "The Millennium Study Tour was designed to reward
local students who have an excellent academic record and fine
moral character. We hope that through their travel experience,
the students can broaden their horizons and get to know peoples
of different cultures and backgrounds. We will also be sending
50 teachers recommended by the Steering Committee on District
Teacher Network to act as chaperons on the Tour so that they
may look after the students and guide them in the completion
of their travel assignments. |
|
| "Their itineraries will include
visits to sights related to environmental protection and new
technologies. We will also invite local university and environmental
agency staff to give lectures to the students with the aim of
increasing the students' understanding of these two major trends
of the 21st century. We hope this will stimulate their thirst
for learning and inspire them to put their knowledge to good
use. We are very pleased to be able to work with the Education
Department on this activity." |
|
| The Millennium Study Tour welcomes
all government and government-subsidised secondary schools to
nominate form 4 to form 7 students. It is estimated that each
of the nearly 500 secondary schools will be allotted two spaces.
Details of the nomination procedure will be announced by the
Education Department in late March. |
|
| Mr. Li has always been a strong
supporter of community welfare projects, having donated nearly
HK$3 billion over the years. Mr. Li established the Li Ka Shing
Foundation in 1980 to promote the development of education,
health care, and other social welfare in Hong Kong, the mainland
and overseas. Among the better-known education projects are
Shantou University, which was founded in 1981; the Cheung Kong
Scholars Programme and the Cheung Kong Achievement Award, established
in 1999 to reward outstanding professors; and the building of
the new Beijing University Library, the largest library in Asia.
The Foundation has also supported many education and research
projects in Hong Kong, including the construction of the University
of Hong Kong Chong Yuet Ming Buildings, the redevelopment of
the Caritas Chong Yuet Ming Pre-vocational School, financing
the expansion of the Open University of Hong Kong, and donations
to a number of tertiary institutions. The Foundation's major
contributions in the area of healthcare include The four Affiliated
Hospitals of Shantou University, a joint venture with the Chinese
University of Hong Kong to build a Joint International Eye Institute,
a donation to the China Disabled Persons Federation which helped
to restore vision to 1 million cataract sufferers, and the building
of five homes for the elderly and the Li Ka Shing Specialists
Clinics in Hong Kong. |
- End -
|
