The Education Commission's education blueprint for the 21st Century, Learning for Life, Learning through Life - Reform Proposals for the Education System in Hong Kong (EC, 2000), highlighted the vital need for a broad knowledge base to enable our students to function effectively in a global and technological society such as Hong Kong, and all subsequent consultation reports have echoed this. The 334 Report advocated the development of a broad and balanced curriculum emphasising whole-person development and preparation for lifelong learning. Besides the four core subjects, Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and Liberal Studies, students are encouraged to select two or three elective subjects from different Key Learning Areas (KLAs) according to their interests and abilities, and also to engage in a variety of other learning experiences such as aesthetic activities, physical activities, career-related experiences, community service, and moral and civic education. This replaces the traditional practice of streaming students into science, arts and technical/commercial subjects. Study of the three different areas of biology, chemistry and physics often complement and supplement each other. In order to provide a balanced learning experience for students studying sciences, the following elective subjects are offered under the Science Education KLA:

Biology, Chemistry and Physics
These subjects are designed to provide a concrete foundation in the respective disciplines for further studies or careers.
Science
This subject operates in two modes. Mode I, entitled Integrated Science, adopts an interdisciplinary approach to the study of science, while Mode II, entitled Combined Science, adopts a combined approach. The two modes are developed in such a way as to provide space for students to take up elective subjects from other KLAs after taking one or more elective subject(s) from the Science Education KLA.
Computer and information technology
Technology develops rapidly. The use of computers and Information Technology in the modern world, in every part of society, is so common as to be inescapable and unavoidable. Students in schools must learn to use IT as a tool, as part of their everyday lives in the future. By the time they are in their early twenties, the technology we deem as state of the art today will probably be outmoded it is true but students who have a good grounding, a solid basis, in today's technology will find it much easier to cope with whatever changes and improvements are on the way.