HONG KONG, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Donald Tsang, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said here Wednesday that the government will give preferential treatment for the development and expansion of international schools.

    "We will make available a number of green field sites at nominal premium for the development of new international schools or the expansion of existing schools with interest-free capital works assistance loans," he said while delivering, at the Legislative Council, the first Policy Address since his reelection as HKSAR Chief Executive in March 2007.

    "We will study the feasibility of allowing the international school sector to develop hostel facilities on a trial basis, with a view to attracting students from different parts of the world," he said

    It is important for Hong Kong to develop a vibrant international school sector to underpin its aspiration to be a global metropolis and fortify its status as a regional education hub.

    The chief executive also pointed to the fact that attracting more outstanding students to study in Hong Kong will enlarge the city's pool of talent and enhance the quality of its population.

    "The Government will introduce a package of measures which includes increasing the admission quotas for non-local students to local tertiary institutions, relaxing employment restrictions on non-local students, as well as providing scholarships to strengthen support to local and non-local students," he said.