2024-2025 Annual Greater Bay Area Cultural and Arts Exchange Cooperation – Sister School Alliance Program for Primary and Secondary Schools
Signing Ceremony for Sister Schools in Jiangmen and Hong Kong

– October 30, 2024

The Signing Ceremony for Sister Schools in Jiangmen and Hong Kong Was Successfully Held

Organized by The Hong Kong Arts and Cultural Education Association, the “2024-2025 Annual Greater Bay Area Cultural and Arts Exchange Cooperation – Sister School Alliance Program” held the “Signing Ceremony for Sister Schools in Jiangmen and Hong Kong” on October 30, 2024, at Choi Wan St. Joseph’s Primary School. The association was honored to invite the following guests of honor: Dr. SZE Chun Fai, Jeff, JP, Deputy Secretary for Education of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government; Mr. Ho Kam-Fai, Director of the Education and Technology Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Ms. Kwang Li Ping, Director of the United Front Work Department of the Jiangmen Municipal Committee; Ms. Zhao Yan, Deputy Director of the Jiangmen Education Bureau; Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Association; and Mr Sun Ming Yeung, Vice Chairman of the Association.

This event received strong encouragement and support from the United Front Work Department of the Jiangmen Municipal Committee and the Jiangmen Education Bureau, successfully facilitating the establishment of partnerships between nine pairs of sister schools from Jiangmen and Hong Kong. The paired schools include secondary schools, primary schools, and kindergartens, making it a significant initiative. The list of sister school pairings is as follows:

Group Photo of the Guests of Honor
(From left to right: Ms. Zhao Yan, Deputy Director of the Jiangmen Education Bureau; Mr. Ho Kam-Fai, Director of the Education and Technology Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government; Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Association; Dr. SZE Chun Fai, Jeff, JP, Deputy Secretary for Education of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government; Ms. Kwang Li Ping, Director of the United Front Work Department of the Jiangmen Municipal Committee; and Mr Sun Ming Yeung, Vice Chairman of the Association)

This signing ceremony facilitated the establishment of partnerships between nine pairs of sister schools from Jiangmen and Hong Kong, encompassing secondary schools, primary schools, and kindergartens, which is highly significant.

During his speech, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, GBS, JP, Chairman of the Association, stated that local schools have established over 3,000 pairs of sister schools with mainland schools. The sister school program provides a professional exchange platform for schools in both regions, encouraging teachers and students to collaborate and foster a spirit of co-creation, sharing, and integration, enhancing mutual understanding. He pointed out that members of the association and a delegation of Hong Kong principals have visited Jiangmen multiple times this year to actively promote educational cooperation between Jiangmen and Hong Kong. Within just a few months, they successfully facilitated the establishment of sister schools, which he finds encouraging for the association’s efforts.

Dr. SZE Chun Fai, Jeff, JP, Deputy Secretary for Education of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, expressed gratitude to the association for facilitating the establishment of sister schools. He was pleased to witness the addition of new members to the sister school network and noted that this was his first time participating in a signing ceremony for sister schools that included primary and secondary institutions. He emphasized the significance of this event, which provides valuable experiences for future sister school partnerships. He acknowledged that the sister school program flourished during Mr. Ng’s tenure as Secretary for Education, where he provided subsidies for sister schools, playing a positive role in promoting exchanges. He mentioned that Jiangmen has a rich cultural heritage that helps broaden the horizons of Hong Kong teachers and students, enhancing their understanding of the mainland.

Ms. Zhao Yan, Deputy Director of the Jiangmen Education Bureau, expressed her gratitude on behalf of the Bureau for the efforts in promoting educational cooperation between the two regions. She noted that the sister school program was launched in 2004, marking its 20th anniversary this year, and has become the strongest connection among schools in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau. She was pleased to announce that, following this signing ceremony, the number of sister schools between Jiangmen and Hong Kong has increased from 57 to 66. She looks forward to collaborative learning and development between schools in the two regions, aiming to achieve the concept of “cultural commonality, unified education; resource sharing, complementary advantages.”

Led by Ms. Kwang Li Ping, Director of the United Front Work Department of the Jiangmen Municipal Committee, and Ms. Zhao Yan, Deputy Director of the Jiangmen Education Bureau, a delegation of Jiangmen schools visited Hong Kong from October 29 to 30, 2024, for a two-day exchange. The Jiangmen delegation visited five Hong Kong schools: Hop Yat Church Shin Ka Chuen Memorial Kindergarten, Shak Chung Shan Memorial Catholic Primary School, The Salvation Army Ann Wyllie Memorial School, Choi Wan St. Joseph’s Primary School, and Po Leung Kuk C. W. Chu College. The delegation highly praised various aspects of the Hong Kong schools, including their educational quality, curriculum design, and school-based development. Establishing sister school partnerships will further deepen educational cooperation and exchanges between the two regions, promote the sharing of educational resources, and lay the foundation for mutual visits and learning among youth, aiming to enhance the high-quality development of education in the Greater Bay Area.