Nirmala RAO is a Professor in the Faculty of Education of the University of Hong Kong. Her research focuses on early childhood development and education in Asia, and she has published widely in the area. She has been an adviser on early childhood development and education for international developmental agencies, and is actively involved in professional organizations concerned with the well-being of young children. Jin SUN is a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Faculty of Education of the University of Hong Kong. Her professional interests include child development in social contexts, early childhood bilingual development, and early childhood education for disadvantaged children.