Secretary for Education Michael Suen said the proposal to fine-tune the medium of instruction for secondary schools is headed in the right direction.

Speaking to the media today, Mr Suen said the shift will give schools more flexibility in choosing which language to teach in and help improve bilingualism.

"We want to ensure that every child in Hong Kong is equally proficient in Chinese and in English. It is where our future lies," he said.

"We pride ourselves as an international city and an international financial centre. One of the essential ingredients is the capability to command both languages."

He said mother-tongue teaching has produced positive results but at the same time students should be given more opportunities to use English language.

He also said the Government will find the best way to help schools carry out the fine-tuning proposal.