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"Although the centre is not yet fully equipped, activities are already being conducted at the centre," he said.
"It is the first and only resource centre on gifted education. The centre aims to serve all identified gifted children, their parents and teachers. It also serves as a base for research studies on giftedness and gifted education."
The centre's facilities are open for use by all identified gifted children, their parents and teachers through application by schools concerned or referrals from the Psychological Services Section of the Education Department.
Members of the Board of Education were also told that two research studies on gifted education had since been launched, one on the adaptation of assessment tools and the other on the distribution of academically-gifted children.
The first research project on the adaptation of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking for use with local children started in October 1992, with all field work studies completed in October 1994.
The final report and the test manual are being studied by the Education Department. These adapted assessment tools will form part of the assessment battery for identification of giftedness by educational psychologists.
The research project on the distribution of academically-gifted children in local primary schools started in October 1993. The study will be completed by the end of this year.
In addition, a three-year pilot school-based programme for academically-gifted children commenced in 1994-95 in 19 voluntary primary schools.
Mr Leung said that in the first year, programmes were provided for Primary 3 to Primary 5 students.
"It will be extended to other class levels in the second year and to secondary schools in 1996-97 when the initial batch of students have completed Primary 6."
"The project will be evaluated for effectiveness before future developments are planned," he continued.
He added that action was being taken to set up a professional team in 1995-96 with educational psychologists, education counsellors and curriculum development officers to support this school-based programme.
Meanwhile, members of the Board of Education noted a progress report by the Committee on Home-School Co-operation.