A GROUP of enthusiastic Island School students have left for Britain to gain first-hand knowledge about problems faced by European countries, especially the effects of recession compared with the phenomenal growth of the economies of Hong Kong, China and the other Asian countries.
The 10 sixth-formers accompanied by Daphne Message, head of Business Department and the exchange programme co-ordinator Liz Thomas, would visit a range of British industries, organisations and meet business people and economists there.
''Students generally have a hard time understanding what recession is all about since they do not experience it here in Hong Kong. That is why we came up with the idea of having an exchange programme with a college in Colchester, Essex,'' explained Miss Thomas, before their departure.
The exchange programme also includes some sight-seeing including a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare.
The students' first assignment would be a presentation about Asia and Hong Kong for students in their host country.
''It took us about six weeks to get everything together, from research to recording the material on our camcorder,'' said Syra Agnew, one of the participants.
