XN000022-1996-10-16 — Page 28

(a)

(b)

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of the terms and implementation details of such an agreement; and

whether the Education Department will enter into similar agreements with other providers of Internet services?

Reply:

Mr President,

In order to enhance the knowledge and skills of our secondary students in information technology, the Education Department will assist all secondary schools to access the Internet from the 1996-97 school year.

With regard to part (a) of the question, the Education Department has not entered into agreement with any of the Internet Service Providers. The Education Department only serves as a facilitator to co-ordinate and disseminate information on the offers available and provide teacher education programmes on how to use Internet for education purposes. Aided and private schools have full discretion to choose any offer from Internet Service Providers. Government schools will use the same provider as the one to be chosen by the Education Department.

So far, the Education Department has received offers from three Internet Service Providers, namely Hongkong Telecom IMS, the Hong Kong Star Internet Limited and the chili.net Limited, to provide free Internet accounts to all secondary schools. The offers basically comprise provision of one to two free Internet accounts, free or limited hours of connection, necessary software, hardware, training sessions for teachers on how to use Internet. hot-line support services and subsequent maintenance. To assist the Education Department in its advisory and training services to teachers, the Internet Service Providers will also offer a free Internet account to the department.

The Education Department will be issuing a school circular at the end of October to announce these offers together with a set of guidelines on the proper use of Internet in schools. The Education Department will closely monitor progress of this project.

As regards part (b) of the question, other Internet Service Providers, if interested, are welcome to provide similar free Internet services to schools. The Education Department will notify schools when such new offers are received.

End