The Government today expressed serious concern over a history question in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) and will request to invalidate the question as part of its follow-up actions.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung made the statement this afternoon in response to public concerns regarding the exam question on the history of China and Japan in the first half of the 20th Century.

He added that the Education Bureau (EDB) will take certain steps in response to the incident that include a probe.

“Next Monday, the EDB will assign a team of colleagues who are familiar with the curriculum and quality assessment to visit the HKEAA (Hong Kong Examinations & Assessment Authority) to investigate the question setting, vetting and approval mechanism under the HKDSE and whether the mechanism has been strictly complied with during the preparation of the examination paper of the history examination.

"We will request HKEAA to invalidate the examination question concerned and make appropriate adjustment to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the history examination.

"Although the HKEAA is empowered to plan and conduct the HKDSE, in view of the recent incident which has aroused public concerns, the EDB will review the existing mechanism and fulfil its role of monitoring the conduct of the HKDSE to ensure quality of the examination and the examination papers."