Hong Kong – Speech by DCS at China Daily Hong Kong “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition (Hong Kong Region) Awards Ceremony (English only)
Speech by DCS at China Daily Hong Kong “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition (Hong Kong Region) Awards Ceremony (English only)
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Following is the speech by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at China Daily Hong Kong “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition (Hong Kong Region) Awards Ceremony:
Deputy Director-General Lin (Deputy Director-General, Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Lin Nan), Counselor Huang (Political Counselor, Office of the Commissioner, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Huang Jingrui), Secretary Mak (the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak), Acting Secretary Sze (the Acting Secretary for Education, Mr Sze Chun-fai), Mr Zhou (Deputy Editor-in-Chief, China Daily Group and Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, China Daily Asia Pacific, Mr Zhou Li), teachers, students, parents, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. It is great pleasure to join you at the Awards Ceremony for this year’s “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition, which has been successfully held for 28 sessions since 1996, with millions of young participants nationwide to have joined. Hong Kong is very privileged to be included since 2017.
This year, more than 1 200 students from 200 Hong Kong schools have taken part in the competition which includes six categories, from kindergarten children all the way to university students. It is truly amazing to see our kids to be so diligent, disciplined and confident at such young ages. It also goes to show that it is never too early to start learning something, especially if it is something useful in opening up one’s world.
I am glad to note that the university winner – to be announced later in today’s ceremony – will move on to the National Grand Final competition, to be held in Suzhou this October, competing against about a hundred speakers from all over the country.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong winners in the primary and secondary-school categories will also have the opportunity to attend the Finals – to see and hear, at first-hand, the wealth of talent there.
Knowing that Hong Kong students have won two national championships in the past years, I have hope in our representative doing well again! No pressure though.
Aspiration aside, being able to join such a national competition is a win in itself already. The exposure, the experience and the chance to be motivated by equal competitors are valuable. I truly congratulate our representative, who would also be cheered on by fellow younger winners.
The secondary school champion, let me add, will participate in overseas Model United Nations courses.
In short, this annual competition is a precious opportunity for our young awardees to develop their talent and to connect with other gifted students from across our country.
In doing so, they will gain more affection for, and a deeper understanding of our nation and its remarkable achievements – in science, innovation and technology, humanities and much more. No less important, they’ll begin to gain an appreciation of how they can contribute to the development of our great nation, its economy, its culture and its future.
Our students could also gain a global perspective, a lifelong learning spirit and a positive mindset. If I could put the clock back, I really wish I were one of you to be able to join this fascinating and meaningful competition.
And while our bright young students are in the Mainland, I am sure that they will be telling the good stories of Hong Kong – good stories of the grand principle of “one country, two systems”, our “eight centres” positioning, our determination to build a “vibrant economy for a caring community”. We’ve certainly all learned how brilliantly well our students can do that.
My thanks to the organisers, China Daily Hong Kong and VDO English, together with 15 support organisations, including the Education Bureau and the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, for making this all possible – for putting together such an extraordinary programme for our youth, in Hong Kong and throughout the nation.
My gratitude goes out, as well, to the competition’s judges – some 80 supremely talented, community-minded adjudicators.
And to all the schools and teachers and many supporters, let me say that your involvement, your day-after-day dedication to our youth is at the very heart of this remarkable programme.
President Xi Jinping said, “As China strives to build itself into a strong country and achieve national rejuvenation through advancing Chinese modernisation, now it is the prime time for all young students.” I think you would also agree that it is the prime time for youths living in Hong Kong too.
With exceptional creativity, eloquence and a strong sense of patriotism, our youths truly stand to benefit from the country’s continued growth and development. In return, future pillars of our society would be able to best contribute to a great new chapter for Hong Kong and our country by being a better version of themselves.
The HKSAR Government released the Youth Development Blueprint in 2022 with the same vision – to nurture a new generation of young people with an affection for our country and our city, global perspectives and positive thinking. Please be assured that we will continue to implement and enhance some 160 measures in the blueprint.
I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage you all to pay attention to and if possible, join the Youth Development Summit to be held on August 10, 2024 as the opening and highlight of the next Youth Festival. Be rest assured that we will also continue to implement various youth exchange and internship programmes in the Mainland and overseas.
Finally, ladies and gentlemen, my congratulations to our deserving winners and finalists. We’ll hear from them in just a few minutes.
Thank you.
Dr. Chris Driskill joins Ransom Canyon VFD, inspired by the vital role of volunteer firefighters.
Former clinical doctor and lifelong advocate for community service, Dr. Christopher Driskill, has taken a significant step into the world of volunteer firefighting by joining the Ransom Canyon Volunteer Fire Department (RCVFD). After retiring from a distinguished career in medicine, Dr. Driskill moved to Ransom Canyon to be closer to his family and quickly found a new way to contribute to the safety and well-being of his community. Located in a region where many small and mid-sized communities heavily rely on volunteer fire services, RCVFD plays a crucial role in protecting the lives and properties of its residents. Dr. Driskill, inspired by the dedication and bravery of volunteer firefighters, is currently pursuing his Firefighter One Certification, dedicating his retirement to learning the skills necessary to aid his community effectively. “As someone who has always been dedicated to serving others, joining the Ransom Canyon Volunteer Fire Department felt like a natural step,” said Dr. Driskill. “The commitment and selflessness I’ve seen in this team are truly inspiring, and I am honored to be part of such a vital effort.” Dr. Driskill’s involvement in the RCVFD not only highlights the importance of volunteer service in maintaining community safety but also serves as an inspiring example of lifelong service and learning. Dr. Christopher S. Driskill and his journey through medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center was marked by academic excellence and leadership, finishing in the top 15% of his class and serving as President of the Medical Student Association. His commitment to service and leadership continued through his residency, where he assumed the role of Administrative Chief Resident, further honing his clinical and administrative skills. Dr. Driskill’s rich resume is balanced by time with his family enjoying the great outdoors. To learn more about how to support or join the Ransom Canyon Volunteer Fire Department, please visit their website. For more news and information about Dr. Christopher Driskill, visit his LinkedIn profile. Bout Time Pub & Grub is thrilled to announce the Grand Reopening of its location in Ogden, UT. Situated at 3651 Wall Ave #1232, Ogden, UT 84405, this reinvigorated space promises to be the ultimate destination for great food, refreshing drinks, and good times. After months of renovations and anticipation, Bout Time Pub & Grub invites the community to join in the celebration on May 17th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, as we welcome guests back into this location. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer, this event promises an evening filled with excitement, camaraderie, and the unmistakable charm of Bout Time Pub & Grub. “We are thrilled to announce the grand reopening of Bout Time Pub & Grub Ogden location after undergoing an extensive renovation! After two months of hard work and dedication, we are excited to welcome our valued customers back to a refreshed and revitalized space,” said Dan Eckersley, Director at Bout Time Pub & Grub. “Join us as we celebrate this new chapter with great food, drinks, and a warm atmosphere that you know and love. Cheers to new beginnings at Bout Time Pub & Grub Ogden location!” The grand reopening event will feature special promotions, delicious bites, and signature cocktails, providing a taste of what’s to come at Bout Time Pub & Grub. Whether you’re dropping by for a quick bite after work or looking to unwind with friends over the weekend, Bout Time Pub & Grub promises to be your go-to destination for fantastic food and unforgettable experiences. Join us on May 17th as we raise a glass to new beginnings and the enduring spirit of camaraderie that defines Bout Time Pub & Grub. You don’t have to wait any longer – Bout Time’s Ogden Location is set to reopen on May 17th! Stop by and check out the fully renovated location! Address: Hours: About Bout Time Bout Time Pub & Grub was started by a group of friends wanting to create a neighborhood pub with fresh, crave-able food, cold drinks, and great sports in an uncompromising atmosphere.
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Elle Marketing and Events is a full-service boutique marketing, branding, and event company. Our team of experts tells the story behind your business through powerful copywriting, beautiful images, strong branding, creative design, social media, videography, photography, and strategic events The Vollrath Company is pleased to announce findings from an independent study conducted this past year examining the performance of its Insta Cut® 5.1 manual food processor compared to using traditional knife skills. The study delivered impressive proof of the efficiency and labor-saving capabilities of the Insta Cut 5.1. According to the study, the Insta Cut 5.1 manual food processor cut a tomato into a quarter-inch dice up to 74% faster than a chef using only a knife. It was up to 66% faster when dicing onions, stressing its exceptional speed and precision in specific food preparation tasks. The Insta Cut 5.1 has the potential to pay for itself with labor savings alone over the course of a year, making it a cost-effective investment for foodservice establishments that strive to optimize their operations. It also reduces food waste, which results in additional savings. For operations with several locations, it helps ensure consistency between locations by reducing human errors. “Vollrath’s Insta Cut 5.1 manual food processor is not a high-tech tool, but it is a huge time saver in the commercial kitchen,” comments Becky Guentner, Vollrath’s product manager for Countertop Equipment. “The time and labor savings it can provide are significant in an industry where margins are increasingly slim.” Vollrath will showcase the Insta Cut 5.1 as well as a wide variety of its comprehensive foodservice equipment, smallwares and serving systems at the National Restaurant Association Show from May 18 to 21 in Chicago. Attendees are invited to visit Vollrath’s booth, #4420, to learn more about its innovative products and solutions.
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Founded in 1874 and based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, The Vollrath Company is a privately held, family-owned and, today, a six- and seventh-generation woman-owned company. It has nine factories spread across the United States, Europe and China that manufacture products to exacting quality standards globally, backed by outstanding customer service. The company focuses on quality design, engineering and manufacturing across its business divisions for foodservice and custom and specialty products. For more information, visit vollrathcompany.com. Memorial Day Weekend, May 25 & 26, 2024, Carnaval San Francisco, the largest and longest-running multicultural celebration in California draws 400,000 attendees annually and generates $10 million into local businesses! Carnaval SF May 25 & 26th In Historic Mission Dist SAN FRANCISCO – May 9, 2024 – PRLog — For De Alba Communications, www.dealba.net, Posted Courtesy of Wright Enterprises Community Spotlight San Francisco ~ Dallas Carnaval San Francisco, themed ‘Honor Indigenous Roots,’ proudly unveils its lineup of musical acts for the 2024 season: Noel Torres, Pirulo Y La Tribu, Banda Blanca, and Franco. These headlining performers serve as the musical icing on the cake for the 400,000 attendees of Carnaval San Francisco, contributing an impactful $10 million to the local economy. The two-day festival and parade will be Memorial Day weekend, May 25th & 26th. There will be 60+ musical acts, food, and dancers representing Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, Trinidad, Tobago, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Guatemala, West Africa, Chile, Haiti and more! The press release from Carnaval San Francisco follows the exciting announcement that Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum, the 1992 Nobel Prize Recipient, will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Grand Parade on the festival’s second day, aligning perfectly with the theme “Honor Indigenous Roots.” Headlining this year’s festival: Noel Torres , is a Mexican singer, song-writer and accordionist, that was deeply influenced by the music of Los Tucanes de Tijuana and Ramon Ayala. He loves to sing romantic ballads and corridos, and will be featured. Some of his chart-topping songs are “Me Interesas,” “La Guanábana,” Pirulo Y La Tribu, founded by ‘Pirulo’ Rosada Rosari, is a 2016 Latin American Music Award winner, that integrates classic styles and modern times, with a combination of salsa, Latin Soul, jazz, hip-hop, urban, Afro-latin and world fusion music. In 2018 the group won a Latin Billboard Award for Tropical Artist/Group of the Year! Among their repertoire are SESAC award-winning songs of Pirulo Y La Tribu such as “Calle Linda,” “Loco Pero Feliz”, “De Mi Que Hablen,” “Miro Pal Cielo,” “Yo Soy Yo,” and “El Tumbaíto.” Catch their electrifying performance on Saturday, May 25th at the 17th and Harrison Street Stage, 4-6 p.m. Banda Blanca is a Honduran musical group renowned for blending elements of merengue and punta into their vibrant sound. They skyrocketed to fame in 1990 with their hit song “Sopa de Caracol,” which soared to number one on the Billboard Top Latin Songs chart in the United States. Additionally, their tracks “Fiesta” and “Swing Latino” made waves on American charts. Their album “Baila Blanca” also claimed the top spot on the Tropical Albums chart. The infectious rhythm that propelled them to stardom, punta, originates from the Garifuna people of African ancestry residing along the Caribbean coast of Honduras, who have settled in the Atlantic region of the country. Don’t miss their performance at the Caravana De La Bahia Oficial (https://www.facebook.com/ Franco, born Franco Javier Iglesias, is a Cuban Latin pop sensation known mononymously as Franco. He made waves in the music scene with two chart-topping hits on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart: his cover of “Toda la Vida” in 1986 and “María” in 1988. The latter track even garnered a Lo Nuestro nomination for Pop Song of the Year in 1989. Don’t miss his performance at the Carnaval De La Bahia Oficial stage at 23rd & Harrison on Saturday, May 25th, 5pm-6pm “Artists in our beloved Mission District gave birth to Carnaval in 1978 with the belief that their passion for Latin, Caribbean and Afro-Diasporic music would unite people across ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientation, gender identification or religious beliefs, and with that original creative spirit we celebrate our 46th Anniversary,” “From Carnaval’s conception, the sounds of cumbia, salsa, samba, soca, mariachi, merengue and reggae music paved the way for Carnaval to thrive. Now, modern sounds such as funk, bachata, dancehall, hip-hop, Afro-beats and reggaeton have joined the mix, resonating with the younger generation. Beyond the good times, The beauty of it all, is the economic impact of Carnaval that generates $10 million dollars for San Francisco businesses.” “Carnaval San Francisco has featured world-class artists such as Santana, Tower of Power, Los Lonely Boys, Celia Cruz, Los Tigres del Norte,Tito Puente, La India, Oscar de Leon, Sonora Dinamita, Olodum, and. We are proud that high caliber performances like those of the past and our current headliners provide joy to our community, free-of-charge for youth to seniors,” continued Duran. “With the added prestige of Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum joining the parade, Carnaval San Francisco is affirmed as truly a celebration with a purpose.” Festival Schedule: The Carnaval San Francisco Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 25 & 26 2024 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Taking place on Harrison Street between 16th and 24th streets, the festival features a rich assortment of food, music, dance, arts, crafts, and other fun activities and entertainment on several stages for people of all ages to enjoy. The Grand Parade led by Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum on Sunday, May 26, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM. will start at the corner of 24th and Bryant streets, proceed west to Mission Street, head north on Mission to 15th Street, turn east on 15th and conclude at South Van Ness. A brilliant procession of contingents, most of which will feature beautifully adorned floats depicting rich multicultural themes and featuring performers will engage and entertain the crowds. The recently crowned King and Queen of Carnaval, Yeison Jimenez and Monica Mendoza will also have a special float to showcase why they won this year’s competition. Admission to the festival and parade is FREE. Grandstand seating for the parade, located on Mission Street between 22nd and 23rd streets, is available for $30 and can be purchased online, here (https://givebutter.com/ For more information, and updates about Carnaval San Francisco, please visit, here (https://carnavalsanfrancisco.org/) About Carnaval San Francisco – Conceived 46 years ago by a group of local musicians, artists and residents eager to bring the spirit of Latin American and Caribbean culture to San Francisco, Carnaval San Francisco has grown to become the largest annual multicultural celebration in California. Carnaval San Francisco is a project of Cultura y Arte Nativa de las Américas (CANA). For more information, please visit: www.carnavalsanfrancisco.org. ### Note to editors: Poster Image: Honor Indigenous Roots (https://www.facebook.com/ Media Contacts: De Alba CommunicationsDr. Christopher Driskill Joins Ransom Canyon Volunteer Fire Department to Serve and Protect the Community
Bout Time ReOpens Ogden Location
3651 Wall Ave #1232, Ogden, UT 84405
Daily 10:00 AM – 1:00 AMStudy Shows Vollrath’s Insta Cut 5.1 Manual Food Processor Outperforms Traditional Methods
World-Renowned Musicians to Headline with 1992 Nobel Prize Laureate as Grand Marshal at the 46th Annual Carnaval San Francisco
www.wrightnow.biz
Graphic Designer: Mer Young
Carnaval Social Media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/
Victoria Sanchez De Alba, (650) 270-7810
Jackie Wright, (415) 525-0410
Chase Roberts, (415) 385-8072
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