Testing and Certification

156.     The Government will implement the three-year development plan for the testing and certification industry to enhance its overall competitiveness.  We will develop new services in four selected trades, namely, Chinese medicine, construction materials, food and jewellery.  Also, we have secured the agreement of the Central Government to expand the scope of the pilot scheme for Hong Kong testing organisations to undertake product testing for the China Compulsory Certification System.

Education Services

157.     To internationalise and diversify our higher education sector, we will attract more overseas students to Hong Kong, and extend student exchange programmes to cover the sub-degree level.  We will also provide more hostel places through active collaboration with local institutions.  We support the construction of college premises by post-secondary institutions through granting land and loans.  The Queen's Hill site is expected to be put up for application next year.  In addition, a $2.5 billion Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund will be launched to provide scholarships and enhance the quality of teaching and learning.  We also propose to extend the ambit of the Start-up Loan Scheme to support the development of student hostels by self-financing degree awarding institutions.  The total commitment of the Scheme will be increased by $2 billion.

158.     With four international schools coming on stream, we estimate that some 5 000 additional international school places will be provided in the next few years.  We will continue to support the in-situ expansion of individual international schools or allocate suitable vacant school premises to them for short-term use.

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