Author Archives: hksar gov

     Following is a question by the Hon Chu Kwok-keung and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (February 12):
 
Question:
 
     At present, the Government collects sampled results of the Pre-Secondary One Hong Kong Attainment Test (Pre-S1 HKAT) biennially in even-numbered years as the scaling tool in the Secondary School Places Allocation (SSPA) System to scale the internal assessment results of the coming cohorts of Primary Six students proceeding to Secondary One (S1). However, in light of the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Government cancelled the sampling arrangements for the Pre-‍S1 HKAT 2020 and 2022, which were not resumed until 2024. As a result, the SSPA System 2023/2025 Cycle (SSPA 2023/2025) can only use the average of the sampled results collected in 2018 and 2024 as the scaling tool. There are views that the aforesaid two sets of sampled results, collected six years apart, cannot objectively and effectively reflect the actual performance of primary schools whose students are proceeding to S1 under SSPA 2023/2025, thus affecting the proportions of the students’ allocation bands. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it will consider adjusting the arrangements for the use of sampled results under SSPA 2023/2025 as appropriate, including adjusting upwards the weighting of the sampled results collected in 2024; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(2) whether it will consider reviewing in the long run the arrangements for the use of sampled results under the SSPA System, and adjusting the calculation of sampled results based on the principle of giving more weight to recent results than to more distant results; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     In order to compare the academic performance of students from different primary schools more objectively and fairly, a scaling mechanism is set up under the Secondary School Places Allocation (SSPA) System to measure and adjust students’ internal assessments of all primary schools participating in the SSPA for the purpose of determining students’ allocation bands. The Government has adopted the Pre-Secondary One Hong Kong Attainment Test (Pre-S1 HKAT) as the scaling tool with effect from SSPA 2005/2007 cycle, so as to reduce the incentive for drilling and alleviate students’ pressure.
 
     Our reply to the question raised by the Hon Chu Kwok-keung is as follows:
 
     The past data on the Pre-S1 HKAT demonstrate that test results between two adjacent cohorts of the same school are generally stable and could effectively and reliably reflect the overall performance of a school without the need to collect samples every year. Therefore, under the prevailing SSPA mechanism, samples of the Pre-S1 HKAT are collected by the Education Bureau (EDB) biennially and the average of the two recently sampled results is used as the scaling tool.
 
     Owing to the COVID-19 epidemic, the EDB cancelled the sampling arrangements for the Pre-S1 HKAT 2020 and 2022 after consultation with the school sector and announced the details to schools. After the epidemic, the sampling arrangement for the Pre-S1 HKAT 2024 has resumed, hence the sampled results of the Pre-S1 HKAT in the two most recent sampling years (i.e. 2018 and 2024) will be used as the scaling tool for SSPA 2025 and 2026. As for SSPA 2027 and 2028, reinstating the pre-epidemic scaling arrangements, the sampled results in 2024 and 2026 will be used as the scaling tool. It is evident that the time gap in sampling before the Pre-S1 HKAT 2024 is only transient due to the epidemic. The existing arrangements are objective, fair, proven effective, and in line with the aim of minimising the examination pressure of students. The school sector is well aware of the transient situation, and schools’ overall performance between two adjacent cohorts was generally stable. Having considered the above factors, the EDB currently has no plan to change the arrangements. read more

     The Labour Department (LD) will hold a public talk entitled “Occupational Stress” on February 20 (Thursday). The talk will introduce the symptoms and health impacts of occupational stress as well as some stress-coping strategies.

     The talk will be given by the LD’s occupational health nurse at 6.30pm at the Lecture Theatre of the Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay.

     The LD will hold another talk, entitled “Manual Handling Operations and Prevention of Back Injuries” on February 24 (Monday). The talk will introduce the structure and functions of the back, causes and preventive measures of back injuries, and proper manual handling operations, with demonstrations and practice of workplace exercises.

     The talk will be given by the occupational hygienist and occupational health nurse at 3.30pm at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East.

     Both talks will be given in Cantonese. Admission is free but pre-registration is required. Interested participants can register online (www.oshsreg.gov.hk/en). For enquiries, please call 2852 4040. read more

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (February 12) that to prevent members of the public from rushing to the TD’s Licensing Offices to submit applications for the renewal of expiring and expired vehicle and driving licences before Budget Day, the TD will implement the following arrangements:
 

• All vehicle licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day (February 26), i.e. vehicles that are registered at the time of renewal and have licence expiry dates falling on or before June 25, can be renewed at the present rate, whether for four months or 12 months, at any time up to and including June 25.

 

• All full Hong Kong driving licences and driving instructor’s licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day (February 26), i.e. those expiring on or before June 25 and those that have expired for less than three years at the time of renewal, can be renewed at the present rate at any time up to and including June 25.

 

• The special arrangements only apply to applications for the renewal of vehicle licences, full driving licences and driving instructor’s licences that meet the conditions above. They do not apply to any other licensing services.

     “It is not necessary for eligible licence holders to rush to the TD’s Licensing Offices to submit applications for the renewal of their vehicle or driving licences on speculation that those licence fees may increase in the coming Budget. The aforementioned arrangements are not related to the content of the Budget, on which the TD has no information,” a spokesman for the TD said. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) will issue Renminbi Bills through the Central Moneymarkets Unit of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Please find attached the tender notice and the tender information memorandum of the Renminbi Bills to be issued by the PBOC. Please also find attached the tender-related information provided by the Issuing and Lodging Agent through the HKMA. read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (February 12) that… read more