Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), sent his first e-mail message to all school heads and teachers in Hong Kong on January 3.

In his message, Tung emphasized that education is the key to sustainable economic development, saying education provides all citizens with an equal opportunity to improve their quality of life and that of their families.

The chief executive also urged teachers to send their views and comments on the review of the education system undertaken by the Education Commission.

"As front-line educators, your participation and support is essential and indeed vital," Tung said.

The Education Commission can take their views into account when finalizing its recommendations, he added.

Knowing that all teachers at all levels are on e-mail, Tung hoped that they would grasp this opportunity to network among themselves, to communicate and to share their experience in teaching.

"If Hong Kong is truly to become a cyberhub, all our citizens must be at ease with technology, including the use of e-mail, the most efficient means of communication," he said.