Experience sharing: Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa addresses the Secondary 6 students.

Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa is delighted to see local students' knowledge of the Mainland and their sense of national identity enhanced through the Award Scheme for Hong Kong Student Leaders: National Education Course.

Accompanied by Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li, Mr Tung today viewed a presentation of the highlights of the students' activities during their 11-day study trip to Beijing.

They then spoke with students who said the trip helped them learn more about Mainland affairs in economics, education and technology, and everyday life, and encouraged them to make the best use of their experience to promote national education in their schools.

"Every Chinese can be proud of the development of our country since its reform and opening up. The success of our country has not come from good luck. It is the result of hard work and foresight," Mr Tung said. "Young people are the masters of Hong Kong. I am confident too that you will play your part in the revival of our nation."

Enlightening trip

The course was organised by the Education & Manpower Bureau with the Ministry of Education's Office for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Affairs and the Central People's Government Liaison Office in Hong Kong.

Some 170 Secondary 6 student leaders and 10 students nominated by the Institute of Vocational Education took part.

During their stay in the capital from July 11 to 21, they participated in courses run by the Renmin University and Beijing University of Posts & Telecommunications. The course included lectures on Chinese history and culture, and developments in the country's economics, politics and technology.