Hong Kong, China - Feb 16, 2023 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of press briefing on establishment of Yew Wah School of Hong Kong
2. Dr. Esther Chan, deputy chief executive officer, Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network, walking to podium, greeting audience
3. Chan giving floor
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dr. Esther Chan, deputy chief executive officer, Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network:
"I hope the operation of this school will help our students clear understand that their roots are in China, and have a greater sense of national identity. Meanwhile, our diverse curriculum will enable them to have an international perspective and broaden their vision."
5. Press briefing in progress
6. Audience
7. Camera crew
8. Information boards of Yew Wah School of Hong Kong
9. Model of school building
10. Stairs inside Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong
11. Various of building of Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong

Education authorities in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Thursday announced a plan to establish a school offering courses under the mainland curriculum, with a view to helping local students better understand their motherland.

According to a press conference held in the day, the Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network was selected as the most suitable applicant for the establishment of the school as a non-profit private education institution providing primary and secondary education using the mainland curriculum, which will be the first of its kind in the Special Administrative Region.

The location of the school has been chosen at a greenfield in Tin Shui Wai, northwestern New Territories of Hong Kong, according to the press conference.

The Education Bureau said that the school, named Yew Wah School of Hong Kong, is scheduled to open in the 2026-27 semester at the earliest, and will eventually have some 900 primary and secondary school places.

"I hope the operation of this school will help our students clear understand that their roots are in China, and have a greater sense of national identity. Meanwhile, our diverse curriculum will enable them to have an international perspective and broaden their vision," said Dr. Esther Chan, deputy chief executive officer under the Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network.

According to the education bureau, with the vigorous development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and growing demand for inter-flow of human resources in the Greater Bay Area, the education authorities in the Special Administrative Region are determined to address the issue in a timely manner by setting up such a school operating under the mainland curriculum.

The Greater Bay Area consists of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, as well as nine cities in Guangdong Province -- Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing. China plans to vigorously develop the Greater Bay Area into a world-class bay area and a top international city cluster as an important driver for national economic growth.