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choices of learning programmes, and employers can choose suitable training programmes for employees according to the needs of the industries. A Recognition of Prior Learning mechanism will be launched to recognise the skills, knowledge and experience of in-service and experienced workers to facilitate their further training and studies.

So far, 12 Industry Training Advisory Committees (ITACs) which are responsible for, among other things, developing Specifications for Competency Standards (SCSs) for the relevant industries have been established. The SCSs will become the basis for curriculum design of training courses for the industries concerned and the first batch. of SCS-based training programmes will be introduced in early 2007. More industries will be assisted to set up ITACS in the coming year.

Education Hub

Hong Kong is well-placed to provide quality higher education for the region. Its cosmopolitan outlook, strong links with the Mainland, world class universities and a diversified system of education present unique attractions to both overseas and Mainland students. To take the initiative forward, an inter-bureau steering committee chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration has been established to examine the strategic issues relating to developing Hong Kong as a regional education hub. The committee is looking into issues including immigration policy, provision of boarding facilities, and marketing and promotion strategies.

Overall Education Landscape

Expenditure on Education

For the 2006-07 financial year, the approved recurrent government expenditure on education was $47.9 billion, equivalent to 23.9 per cent of all recurrent government expenditure, while the total government expenditure on education amounted to $56.5 billion, or 23 per cent of total government expenditure.

Education Commission

The EC is responsible for advising the Government on the overall educational objectives and policies, and coordinating the work of all major education-related advisory bodies on the planning and development of education at all levels. The commission also advises the Government on implementation issues with important policy implications to ensure better synergy between policy formulation and implementation.

The commission has a chairman, a vice-chairman who is the Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower, seven ex-officio members and a number of non-official members. The seven ex-officio members comprise the chairmen of the Advisory Committee on Teacher Education and Qualifications, the Curriculum Development Council, the HKEAA Council, the Quality Education Fund Steering Committee, the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research, UGC and the Vocational Training Council (VTC). The non-official members come from both education and non-education fields.