新闻公报及演辞

演辞(2005年及以后)

2005年5月21日

教育统筹局常任秘书长罗范椒芬女士, GBS, JP
英语节2005之闭幕典礼致辞全文
(只设英文版)

Mr Tien, Mr Chan, Students, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I must congratulate Mr Tien and members of the Standing Committee on Language and Research on the success of the first ever English Festival.

Debating, drama, word games, singing and story telling, sports, TV programmes, poetry writing, and newspaper reporting and editing...etc etc, it is true to say, the Festival has something for everybody. With over 20,000 participants in various activities, and millions of viewers of "One-minute English" on TV, the English Festival has successfully brought home the message, loud and clear - Learn English Everywhere.

Hong Kong, being an international city, provided plenty of opportunities to learn and practice the use of English. There is no single way to succeed in learning English but there is one sure way to fail, i.e. not seizing the opportunities to learn. The key to success is therefore in your hands. To compete in the global economy, Hong Kong must maintain its cosmopolitan and multi-cultural character. Our people must speak good English to make visitors and foreigners feel at home.

Officially, this is the Closing Ceremony of the English Festival but we gather here today to mark the beginning of a new approach to learning English - everyday and everywhere, both inside and outside the classroom, at home and in the community. Watch out and you will be surprised to find the amount of English that is around us. Create your mini English Festival in your daily routine. Read English, write English, speak English and listen to English everyday. Practice makes perfect. There is no short-cut to mastering a language.

The English Festival also does not end today in a literal sense. Some of the events are on-going until October this year.

I wish all our students will succeed in learning English well. I must thank Mr Tien and members of the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research for their hard work and innovations in organising the English Festival. Now sit back, relax and enjoy the show!