Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li has welcomed the unanimous call from kindergarten organisations for the Government to seek funding approval from the Finance Committee as soon as practicable, so that the education voucher scheme can be implemented starting from the 2007 school year.

Professor Li made the remarks after meeting Kindergarten Association Chairperson Mary Tong and other members of the association today.

Participating representatives agreed to the Government's five basic principles in subsiding the pre-primary sector, including the principle that only non-profit-making kindergarten organisations may redeem education vouchers.

"Some kindergarten representatives indicated their wish to change the status of their kindergartens from private independent to non-profit making. We shall lend them our full support," Professor Li said.

The bureau will continue to meet representatives of other kindergarten organisations to listen to their views.