Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College was established in 1977, which means that our school has a history of 37 years. Over the past 37 years, the school has been striving hard to accomplish our school mission. We endeavor to provide an educational environment which focuses on not only academic development, but also on aesthetics, physical aspects, morality and sociability.  We hope our students can become responsible and sensible citizens and serve our community in the future. I am proud to say that we have done the best we can and have achieved our targets.

I am uplifted by some good news regarding our students’ outstanding academic performance. In July, the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination results were released. It is very encouraging to see that the results of our students have been improving over the past few years. The rate of students attaining the 33222 requirement for university entrance is the highest out of the past three years and the results in subjects including Chinese language, Matheamtics and Chemistry have also improved a lot.  Because of this improvement in the overall results, we have a higher percentage of degree programmes offered this year. Out of the 177 candidates from our school, 107 of them have successfully enrolled in degree programmes offered through the Joint University Admission Programme, which means 60.5% of our F.6 students last year have been offered a degree programme. Among these 107 students, 47.7% of them have entered the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Best of all, three of our F.6 graduates have been admitted into the Faculty of Medicine. They are going to receive training to be our society’s future healers. Besides that, some of our other students are receiving an education to be physiotherapists, occupational therapists, accountants, actuarial analysts, just to name a few. This has really echoed our school’s educational principle -- making our students useful members of society. The good results are attributed to the hard work of the students and also to the support of our teachers. I hope the F.6 students this year will achieve the same kind of success and gain even better results.

As I have just mentioned, our educational goals are twofold. We hope our students will get good results in the public examinations. In addition, we strongly believe that a fantastic school life helps build up a person’s aesthetic sense, a sense of responsibility and good social skills. This summer, many of you took part in programmes that shaped your thoughts, personalities and future. We had students taking part in the mock Legislative Council, UNICEF Young Envoys programme, Youth Leadership Programme, Hong Kong Young Ambassador Scheme, CLP Young Power Programme, visual arts fashion design workshops, prefect training workshops, voluntary service, gifted education programmes from university and various study trips. I hope you will have a chance to share with your classmates all the good things you have experienced so that you can learn from your peers and set new goals for yourselves.

The new school year is just round the corner. Tomorrow you will start your lessons. No matter which form you are in, I hope you will see more meaning in your school life and be the architect of your own school life. This year we will have a 4-day test week in each term. This means you will have more time for activities. Take more initiative in joining activities and have better time management for your studies, then all these OLE activities can spice up your school life. Finally, all of us will have a new friend from Germany. I would like to take this chance to introduce Jonas Lindner to you all. Jonas is in F.4D. He may need some help in the beginning as this is a totally new place to him. Remember to be as hospitable and as nice as you can.

Now at the beginning of the new school year, may I advise all of you to set higher goals for yourselves based on your past experience. I hope you can turn yourselves into more active learners. Remember that you are the one who is in charge of your future, not your teachers or your parents. Seize the moment and pursue your dreams. I look forward to seeing more miracles in our school in the near future.