Listening to a student of Pui Kiu Middle School (left) speak at the sharing session on President Xi Jinping’s reply letter to her schoolmates are the school’s supervisor, Jasper Tsang Yok-sing (second from left), Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (second from right), and Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin, at a sharing session on the "Important spirit of President Xi Jinping's reply letter to Hong Kong students" at the Central Government Offices in Hong Kong . (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Friday that President Xi Jinping’s letter responding to students from the city’s Pui Kiu Middle School showed Xi’s care for and encouragement of Hong Kong students, and will inspire Hong Kong’s education sector to cultivate more young talents with a comprehensive understanding and heartfelt recognition of the motherland.

Lee made his remarks on Friday during a sharing session attended by about 230 representatives from the city’s political, legal and education sectors, as well as teachers and students from local kindergartens and schools.

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The session, organized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, aims to show the significance of Xi’s letter to Hong Kong students and the city’s entire education sector.

The reply conveys Xi’s care and encouragement to Hong Kong students, motivates schools across the region, and serves as a guiding principle for the city’s education sector, said Lee

On July 24, Xi replied to a letter from students of Pui Kiu Middle School, encouraging them to contribute to building an even better Hong Kong and achieving national rejuvenation.

Lee said Xi’s letter is of great importance in Hong Kong’s historic process of moving from stability to prosperity. The reply conveys Xi’s care and encouragement to Hong Kong students, motivates schools across the region, and serves as a guiding principle for the city’s education sector, he added.

Lee reaffirmed the SAR government’s commitment to promoting national education on campuses and helping students from an early age better understand the history, culture and social development of the motherland, in a bid to enhance their national identity and the sense of safeguarding national security.

The chief executive said he hopes that the entire education sector can comprehensively study Xi’s letter, and grasp and integrate its essence into their daily work to cultivate more talents who can contribute to Hong Kong and the nation’s development.

Also at the event, Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said Xi’s letter affirms Hong Kong’s efforts to promote national education, and raises expectations of the city’s education system.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (center) delivers his opening remarks at a sharing session on the "Important spirit of President Xi Jinping's reply letter to Hong Kong students" at the Central Government Offices. Looking on are Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (right), and supervisor of Pui Kiu Middle School, Mr Jasper Tsang (left). (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The Education Bureau will continue to help students cultivate a strong sense of loving the city and the country, develop their skills in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, and enhance their understanding of global and national conditions as well as the “one country, two systems” principle, she said.

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The session also provided an opportunity for teachers and students from the secondary school and other participants to share their feelings about the letter.

Mike Wong contributed to the story.

gangwen@chinadaily.com.cn