ExecutiveSummary

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION ONE -INTRODUCTION

Background
Scope of research
Report structure
Information sources

SECTION TWO -EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Industry overview
The need for change
Extending textbook life and transferring roles
An incremental approach and variations
Improving the industry generally
Publisher recommendations
Government recommendations
School recommendations
Use of information technology

SECTION THREE -SUPPLY AND DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS

The markets
Textbook supply and demand

SECTION FOUR - THEPUBLISHER MARKET

Market shares
Competition concerns based on market share
Imports
Supply side substitutability
Barriers to entry
Satisfying government criteria
Satisfying schools' criteria
History of entry and exit
Information technology
Centralized textbook publishing

SECTION FIVE - THERETAIL MARKET

Second hand textbooks
Retail market shares
Retail profitability
Recent innovations in retailing

SECTION SIX -GOVERNMENT POLICIES

Educational policies
Curriculum development
Periodic revisions
Production schedules
School Guidelines from ED
Textbook policy in other jurisdictions

SECTION SEVEN -TEXTBOOK SELECTION

Disclosure of pricing information
Pricing pressure in the selection process
Textbook revisions

SECTION EIGHT -OVERSEAS EXAMPLES OF TEXTBOOK POLICY

Summary
Details on individual country/place
Australia
Canada
France
Germany
Hungary
Italy
Japan
Korea
Mainland China
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
UK
USA

SECTION NINE -TEXTBOOK LOAN LIBRARY

The existing textbook assistance scheme in Hong Kong
Textbook Loan Libraries
Overseas experience
Alternative Options
Impact of loan library
Impact on government
Impact on schools
Impact on students/parents
Impact on publishers/retailers

Appendix 1:Estimated Market Shares of Publishers in Textbook Market - by Sales Turnover

Appendix 2:Estimated Market Shares of Publishers in Textbook Market - by Subject

Appendix 3:Number of Books on the Recommended Textbook List

Appendix 4:Production Schedule of Textbooks for the Revised CDI Syllabuses

Appendix 5:Consumer Council Recommendations on the Issue of the Provision of Sponsorship,Teaching Aids and Donations to Schools by Textbook Publishers

Appendix 6:Textbook Prices in Primary and Secondary Schools

Appendix 7:Option of using existing textbook assistance funds to create textbook loanlibraries