All-set: Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li (second right) congratulates two of the 170 students accepted for the Beijing course.

Some 170 Secondary Six students will join the first Jockey Club Award Scheme for Hong Kong Student Leaders: National Education Course in Beijing on December 17.

The 10-day course includes lectures and seminars on the Mainland's latest achievements in the areas of economics, politics, science and technology, and education, with visits and sharing sessions.

Participants will be required to submit project reports upon completion of the course and to help promote national education in their schools.

The Jockey Club donated $13 million to organise national education courses for about 1,500 local students in the coming three years. The first course has been well received with applications from 420 students from 230 schools. Based on the quality of their essays and interviews, and recommendations from their school heads, 170 have been selected.

Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li today called on students to enhance their knowledge of the motherland and broaden their horizons to prepare for future developments.

"We hope to provide, through organising national education courses, opportunities for our youngsters to get to know more about our motherland," he said.