This was increased to 3.8 per cent in 1999-2000. Apart from recurrent provision, the Quality Education Fund will continue to provide additional resources for schools. We cannot agree with Mr Szeto more. Many members also pointed out that tertiary education is already taking up one-third of the total expenditure on education, and therefore in considering the allocation of new resources in education, emphasis should be put on basic education and measures which can genuinely enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning. We also concur with such a view.
Education is an important undertaking of the society as a whole.
The Government and the entire community should make collective effort to foot the education bill. In many countries such as the United States, Korea, Japan, etc., resources from outside the government often make up a large proportion of the total expenditure on education. Whereas in Hong Kong, it is still the Government who pays for most of the education expenses. I look forward to comprehensive and extensive discussions on this subject among members of the public when the EC releases its consultation document in May. We have always attached great importance to the maintenance of a favourable learning environment in schools.