About 78,000 people, including students and teachers, participated in the Putonghua Festival 2006, that ended today. About 1.2 million viewers tuned into the TV series specially produced for the festival.

Officiating at today's festival-closing ceremony, Executive Council member Henry Fan encouraged Hong Kong people to master Putonghua to open themselves up to a new world.

Standing Committee on Language Education & Research member Junia Ho said the body will step up its efforts to promote Putonghua.

"SCOLAR will continue its support to teachers in upgrading their professional knowledge in teaching Putonghua and in organising activities that will help their students learn the language both inside and outside the classroom," she said.

The festival's closing ceremony will be broadcast on TVB Jade at 11.05pm on December 7.