Press Release

(Hong Kong – 16 March 2023) Stepping into its 15^th anniversary, the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE or Academy) was having a double celebration as it welcomed a new batch of Gifted Education Satellite Centres (GESC). A signing ceremony for the GESC collaborative framework agreement was held today to symbolise the kickoff of the three new GESCs, through which the Academy’s services would be further extended to the community. 

Back in 2021, the Gifted Education Satellite Centre Scheme (GESCS) was launched and joined by three partner schools. It aims to strengthen the collaboration with schools and extend the coverage of gifted education services to different districts in the territory by providing outreach gifted education lectures and talks for parents, teachers, and students outside the HKAGE main campus. Besides, some satellite centres that have facilities like auditoriums, lecture halls, and indoor or outdoor sport fields can provide venues for the Academy’s flagship events, such as the Annual Hotung Lecture cum Biennial Parent Conference and the Outstanding Student Awards Ceremony, as well as various student programmes.  

The new batch of GESCs, i.e.,The Chinese Foundation Secondary School (Chai Wan), Buddhist Kok Kwong Secondary School (Sha Tin), and Diocesan Girls' School (Jordan), are well spread across various districts of Hong Kong, setting a milestone for the GESCS to have its first-ever centres established in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island respectively. With the newly launched GESCs, the whole network of the GESCs is further enhanced, stretching the coverage of HKAGE’s services to a broader area and optimising the use of resources.    

Ir Dr Alan LAM Hiu Fung, Chairperson of the HKAGE, welcomed the new school partners, ‘Since the inception of the first three GESCs in 2021, it has been noticed that many schools have shown great passion for advocating gifted education. Along with the ease of the epidemic in 2023, we are of the view that we should expand the network of the GESCs. We look forward to seeing the sign of our satellite centres covering all districts of Hong Kong in the near future.’ 

Dr Jimmy WONG Kam Yiu, Executive Director of the HKAGE, shared the outcomes arising from the GESCS in the past two years, ‘Though we were still suffering from the epidemic in the past two years that most of the programmes and activities had to be held online, the HKAGE still made every endeavour to provide face-to-face training and activities for students, parents, and teachers where appropriate. In addition to the flagship events, we also leveraged the distinctive facilities of our GESCs to run special courses, such as programmes on newly emerging sports, in the satellite centres with indoor stadiums. I’m happy to share with you that participants of the activities held in GESCs have evaluated a relatively high satisfaction rate, 9 out of 10. This result has encouraged us to pursue the enhancement of this GESC network.’  

Mr HO Tik Shun, Principal, The Chinese Foundation Secondary School, said after the signing ceremony, ‘On this special day, we are grateful to be invited to become a GESC and hope to provide better gifted education.’ Ms WONG Ka Man, Principal of Buddhist Kok Kwong Secondary School, also shared her happiness, saying, ‘As a neighbour school, we are delighted to witness the growth of the HKAGE. For the benefit of our future generation, we look forward to seeing a bigger HKAGE in terms of its service scale, with which more students can be supported.’ Mrs Stella LAU, SBS, JP, Headmistress, Diocesan Girls' School, said, ‘Hong Kong has always been a place for nurturing talents. Most of the courses offered by the Academy are free of charge. As long as students have the potential, their talents can be explored and developed without being hindered by financial difficulties. This is the beauty of Hong Kong. When more satellite centres are set up, it is hoped that these valuable learning opportunities will be accessible to more students.’

Gifted students from the three newly joined partner schools shared their learning experiences with HKAGE’s gifted programmes. Adrian LEE, student from The Chinese Foundation Secondary School was happy to know about the launch of the first satellite centre on Hong Kong Island, ‘I still remember well a programme on thinking skills that has greatly enhanced my skills in thinking and in turn facilitated my taking up of leadership roles in my school. I look forward to seeing more gifted education programmes delivered in my school, so that we can attend classes of the Academy’s programmes directly after school and save the travel time.’ KO Tsz Kin, student from Buddhist Kok Kwong Secondary School, said, ‘The activities and courses of the HKAGE are very inspiring. The programme I remember best is a talk on music therapy. During the talk, the guest speaker shared with us how different types of music and musical instruments created with STEAM elements were used to help promote the learning and self-confidence of intellectually challenged children.’ Charms NG, student from Diocesan Girls’ School, said, ‘The HKAGE is an invaluable "travel guide" on our learning pathway which guides us to broaden and deepen our learning. The most impressive programme I have joined was a chemistry programme on drug invention and development. It gave me the rare opportunity to get in touch with topics I seldom came across. During the visit to pharmaceutical factories and drug testing laboratories, I found out that the processes of manufacturing and testing drugs were very complicated and rigorous. I am grateful for my school for having nominated me to join the HKAGE, so that I can be exposed to different learning domains. I wish the three new satellite centres a smooth sailing ahead!’

 About the Gifted Education Satellite Centre Scheme

The Scheme was launched in 2021, and the first batch of GESCs are Evangel College (Shek Mun, Sha Tin), HKBU Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School (Yuen Long), and SKH Bishop Baker Secondary School (Tseung Kwan O). 

About The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

The HKAGE, a subvented non-governmental organisation of the Education Bureau, The Government of the HKSAR, was established in 2008. It aims at serving the education sector in Hong Kong, offering high quality information, support and appropriate learning opportunities to gifted students, their parents, teachers and other stakeholders engaged in gifted education. Most of its programmes are provided free-of-charge.

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Event Photos

Ir Dr Alan LAM Hiu Fung, Chairperson of the HKAGE, delivers the welcome remarks.

Dr Jimmy WONG Kam Yiu, Executive Director of the HKAGE, shares the outcomes arising from the Gifted Education Satellite Centre Scheme in the past two years. 

Representatives of the newly joined satellite centres (second left: Mrs Stella LAU, SBS, JP, Headmistress, Diocesan Girls' School;  Middle: Mr HO Tik Shun, Principal, The Chinese Foundation Secondary School; second right: Ms WONG Ka Man, Principal, Buddhist Kok Kwong Secondary School) pose with Ir Dr Alan LAM Hiu Fung (first right), Chairperson of the HKAGE and Dr Jimmy WONG Kam Yiu (first left), Executive Director, the HKAGE, holding the signed collaborative framework agreement.

Three gifted student members studying in the three newly joined Gifted Education Satellite Centres (GESCs) respectively share their learning experience with HKAGE’s gifted programmes and their feelings on the launch of the new batch of GESCs.

Adrian LEE, student from The Chinese Foundation Secondary School located on Hong Kong Island, looks forward to seeing more gifted education programmes delivered in his school.

KO Tsz Kin, student from Buddhist Kok Kwong Secondary School, says the activities and programmes of the HKAGE are very inspiring.

Charms NG, student from Diocesan Girls’ School, thanks the school for having nominated her to join the HKAGE, so that she can be exposed to different learning domains.

Attending guests take a group photo with the representatives of the HKAGE.