Pasting and email from ESF as FYI:

Your support makes a difference

The Education Bureau (EDB) will make a progress report on the review of the recurrent subvention to the Education Panel of the Legislative Council (LegCo) on 11 July 2011.

As you know, the English Schools Foundation (ESF) has been subvented by the Government since inception. In the past, the level of subvention was comparable to the subsidies given to local schools. However, it has been frozen since 2003-04. Because of the increased number of students, the amount of subvention per student has in fact reduced by some 26% over these past eleven years.

The review is very important to the whole ESF community. We hope that you will show your support by sharing the following messages with your friends, relatives and colleagues, so that our voice is heard.

You may also wish to write to EDB officials, LegCo members and the media. Tell them why you think that ESF children's education should be subsidised.

  • Hong Kong's prosperity depends upon the availability of high-quality English-medium education;
  • Government subvention makes high-quality English-medium education affordable;
  • Around 70% of ESF students have parents who are permanent Hong Kong residents, and who contribute to Hong Kong's economic success;
  • ESF schools are non-selective with dedicated facilities for children with special educational needs;
  • Many successful graduates from ESF have gone on to excellent universities worldwide including Hong Kong, and many later choose to work here;
  • The applications for ESF's Year 1 and Year 7 far exceeded the number of places available. The Government needs to recognise the demand for English-medium education in Hong Kong and the important role that ESF plays.

Please show your support by writing an email message before the meeting on 11 July 2011.

EDB officials

Mable Chan, Deputy Secretary for Education (2)

[email protected]

Raymond Sy, Principal Assistant Secretary

[email protected]

Media

Apple Daily

[email protected]

Hong Kong Economic Times

[email protected]

Hong Kong Economic Journal

[email protected]

Ming Pao

[email protected]

Oriental Daily News

[email protected]

Sing Tao

[email protected]

South China Morning Post

[email protected]

Ta Kung Pao

[email protected]

The Standard

[email protected]

Wen Wei Po

[email protected]

List of LegCo Education Panel Members

Hon Starry LEE Wai-king, JP (Chairman)

[email protected]

Hon Cyd HO Sau-lan (Vice Chairman)

[email protected]

Hon Albert HO Chun-yan

[email protected]

Hon LEE Cheuk-yan

[email protected]

Hon CHEUNG Man-kwong

[email protected]

Hon LEUNG Yiu-chung

[email protected]

Hon TAM Yiu-chung, GBS, JP

[email protected]

Hon Abraham SHEK Lai-him, SBS, JP

[email protected]

Hon Tommy CHEUNG Yu-yan, SBS, JP

[email protected]

Hon Audrey EU Yuet-mee, SC, JP

[email protected]

Hon WONG Kwok-hing, MH

[email protected]

Hon Andrew LEUNG Kwan-yuen, GBS, JP

[email protected]

Prof Hon Patrick LAU Sau-shing, SBS, JP

[email protected]

Hon KAM Nai-wai, MH

[email protected]

Dr Hon LAM Tai-fai, BBS, JP

[email protected]

Hon Paul CHAN Mo-po, MH, JP

[email protected]

Dr Hon Priscilla LEUNG Mei-fun

[email protected]

Hon CHEUNG Kwok-che

[email protected]

Hon Mrs Regina IP LAU Suk-yee, GBS, JP

[email protected]

Dr Hon Samson TAM Wai-ho, JP

[email protected]

Hon Tanya CHAN

[email protected]

Hon WONG Yuk-man

[email protected]