Hong Kong – Appointments to Committee on Promotion of Civic Education announced
Appointments to Committee on Promotion of Civic Education announced
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The Government announced today (March 31) the appointment of five new members and the reappointment of 10 incumbent members to the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education (CPCE). The appointments of these 15 members will take effect from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2026.
The five newly appointed members are Miss Chan Nga-man, Ms Kimberly Kwok Hew-chee, Ms Lau Hoi-chi, Mr Lee Kang-pan and Ms Esther Sham Ei-hung. The 10 reappointed members are Mr Mac Chan Ho-ting, Mr Jonathan Chan Pok-chi, Ms Chan Wing-man, Mr Allen Che Wai-hang, Mr Andy Kwok Wing-leung, Miss Leung Yan-yan, Mr Robert Andrew Lui Chi-wang, Mr Frederick Poon Siu-chi, Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai and Mr Yiu Chun-kai.
The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, welcomed the appointments and said that she was pleased to see new members coming from different sectors and professions who would give valuable advice to the work of the CPCE. She also expressed her appreciation to the outgoing members, Mr Karson Choi Ka-tsan, Ms Lusan Hung Lo-shan, Mr Lai Chin-hong, Mrs Christine Lau Ma and Ms Fonnie Leung Fung-yee, for their efforts and contributions to the CPCE during their term of service.
The membership list of the CPCE, with effect from April 1, 2024, is as follows:
Chairman
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Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing
Members
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Mr Mac Chan Ho-ting
Miss Chan Nga-man
Mr Jonathan Chan Pok-chi
Ms Chan Wing-man
Mr Allen Che Wai-hang
Ms Carol Cheung Nga-lai
Miss Catherina Choy Mei-wa
Mr Stephen Chua Yiu-yeung
Mr Dave Ho
Mr Kinsey Ho Ka-tsun
Ms Kimberly Kwok Hew-chee
Mr Andy Kwok Wing-leung
Ms Lau Hoi-chi
Mr Lee Kang-pan
Miss Christine Leung Wan-chong
Miss Leung Yan-yan
Mr Robert Andrew Lui Chi-wang
Mr Vincent Ma Chi-wai (Steven Ma Chun-wai)
Mr Frederick Poon Siu-chi
Ms Esther Sham Ei-hung
Mr Jan Noel Shih
Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai
Mr James Tong Wai-pong
Miss Shirley Wong Chi-lou
Ms Wong Kit-lin
Dr Yan Wai-kiu
Ms Jennifer Yeung Yin-chi
Mr Yiu Chun-kai
The CPCE was established in 1986 as a non-statutory advisory body to promote civic education outside schools. It advises the Government on the objective and scope of civic education, promotes civic education outside schools through a range of publicity and educational programmes, and sponsors eligible organisations to carry out civic education projects.
Committee for Safeguarding National Security of HKSAR strongly condemns US Congress lawmakers for grossly interfering in HKSAR matters
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The Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Committee) strongly condemned individual United States (US) lawmakers for grossly interfering in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) matters by requesting a bill of sanctions in an attempt to intimidate the HKSAR officials, prosecutors and judges.
A spokesman for the Committee said, “Since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) more than three years ago, Hong Kong community has gradually recovered from the chaos arising from the advocate for “independence of Hong Kong”, secession, and terrorist violence that emerged during the Hong Kong version of the “colour revolution” back in 2019 that seriously jeopardised our nation’s sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity. Citizens have returned to normal life and the vibrant business environment has been restored. The cooperation with the Mainland in financial, trade, economic, innovation and technology, cultural and other fields has further been deepened. This is the reality that US politicians with ill intentions are unwilling to see.”
The spokesman said, “the HKSAR is an inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China. The HKSAR Government has the constitutional duty to safeguard sovereignty, security and development interests of our nation. The Committee fully, faithfully and resolutely upholds the principle of ‘one country, two systems’. It expresses strong indignation at and vehemently condemns foreign politicians who spread various false narratives in their rowdy attempt to interfere in the duties of the HKSAR officials, the prosecution functions of the Department of Justice, and the judicial powers exercised independently by the courts.”
The spokesman stressed, “We firmly oppose any foreign countries or external forces interfering in the affairs of the HKSAR in any manner. Any attempt to interfere is unpopular and doomed to fail.”
The spokesman said, “The Committee will steadily establish and improve the legal system and enforcement mechanism for the HKSAR to safeguard national security, fully and faithfully implement the NSL, and effectively prevent, suppress and punish in accordance with the law acts and activities that endanger national security. At the same time, it shall safeguard the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people in accordance with the law. Its overarching goal is to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of ‘one country, two systems’.”
Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases reviews use of pneumococcal vaccine in Hong Kong
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Having reviewed the scientific data, the SCVPD considered that locally available pneumococcal vaccines, including two newly registered vaccines, namely 15-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV15) and 20-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV20), were safe and effective. In addition, PCV15 induced higher immunogenicity, comparing with PCV13 and PCV20, against Serotype 3 which is believed to be more effective in preventing IPD caused by this serotype.
Taking into consideration the local epidemiology and available scientific evidence, the SCVPD recommended to replace PCV13 with PCV15 under both the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme and the Government Pneumococcal Vaccination Programme. Relevant immunisation schedules for children and high-risk individuals would remain unchanged. When PCV15 is available under relevant government vaccination programmes, children can receive PCV15 with two primary doses given at 2 and 4 months of age followed by a booster dose at 12 months. Unvaccinated elderly aged 65 or above without a high-risk condition should receive a single dose of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPV) whereas those with high-risk conditions should receive one dose of PCV15 followed by one dose of 23vPPV one year later. For individuals not eligible for relevant government vaccination programme, they may choose to receive any locally registered pneumococcal vaccine to protect themselves against IPD following the manufacturer’s recommendations and upon discussion with healthcare professionals. Details of the SCVPD’s updated recommendations on the use of pneumococcal vaccine are available on the CHP’s website at www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/24008.html.
During the same meeting, the SCVPD also discussed the use of herpes zoster vaccines. Experts considered that locally available herpes zoster vaccines were safe and effective. Individual older adults and adults with immunocompromised conditions may consider receiving herpes zoster vaccine in consultation with their doctors to protect themselves against zoster and its complications. The SCVPD considered that more local data from a cost benefit analysis perspective would be essential for future consideration on the inclusion of herpes zoster vaccine into relevant government vaccination programmes.
Steering Committee on District Governance convenes first meeting (with photos)
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(1) To launch at full steam the School-based After School Care Service Pilot Scheme in the new school year to allow primary students in need to stay after school to receive care and learning support, while enabling parents who are bound by after-school child care duties to work and improve their livelihood;
(2) To improve and set up more fitness equipment for the elderly; to provide umbrellas and hiking poles for borrowing in large parks to provide the elderly in need with the ease of visiting parks or taking a walk; and to step up efforts in identifying and caring for the elderly and carers in need for referral to social welfare units for support;
(3)To improve the environmental hygiene of public markets and cooked food markets, including improving the hardware and management of toilets, strengthening inspection and enforcement, and expediting overhaul of stalls; and to enhance anti-rodent work, including exploring the adoption of new rodent detection and control technologies, strengthening nighttime rodent prevention and control work, etc;
(4) To strengthen the patrol coverage, as well as the work and visibility of enforcement, of law enforcement agencies such as the Police; and
(5) To expand the repaving of footpaths for a more comfortable walking environment, and install new auxiliary devices with red light beam projection at pedestrian crossings for improving road safety.
The Steering Committee also reviewed at the meeting the arrangements for displaying publicity materials to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and examined the report on the work of the District Services and Community Care Teams.
Chairman of Committee on Community Support for Rehabilitated Offenders reviews CSD passing-out parade (with photos)
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Speaking at the parade, Ms Tsui commended correctional officers for sparing no effort to maintain a safe and secure custodial environment, enhance rehabilitation programmes and foster community education. She pointed out that in recent years, arising from a large number of people with radical thoughts and violent behaviours being detained in correctional institutions, the CSD has adopted a nip-it-in-the-bud strategy and made necessary arrangements through flexible deployment of resources in a timely manner, while strengthening supervision and intelligence collection, thus preventing the prisons from being turned into bases for subversion against China and Hong Kong.
Ms Tsui mentioned that to address the special rehabilitation needs of the persons in custody (PICs) with radical thoughts and violent behaviours, the CSD has introduced a programme named “Project PATH” to help PICs disengage from radical thoughts and violent behaviours progressively, establish correct values, and enhance their sense of national identity. In addition, the CSD launched an initiative “Project JET” to provide more employment opportunities, including those in the Greater Bay Area, for young PICs and rehabilitated persons. Moreover, professionals from different sectors have been invited to host life planning courses held in institutions to help PICs prepare themselves for employment and further studies.
She also pointed out that the CSD launched a number of new services in the past year, including the establishment of multi-purpose family and rehabilitation service centres, expanding psychological counselling services to the community and further strengthening the psychological and counselling services for rehabilitated offenders and their families.
She said that the CSD has been actively promoting community education, and has been organising diversified activities under the Rehabilitation Pioneer Project to instil in young people correct values, enhance their awareness of safeguarding the country and home as well as nurture them to be responsible and law-abiding citizens.
During the parade, Ms Tsui presented the Principal’s Shield to Officer Mr Yu Tak-ho and the Golden Whistle to three Assistant Officers II, Ms Tsang Fai-ying, Mr Lee Ho-man and Mr Wong Heung-yin, for their outstanding performance in the recruit training.
Ms Tsui encouraged graduates to uphold the CSD’s professionalism and fearless spirit to perform their duties with a view to creating a better and harmonious Hong Kong.
Hong Kong – Committee for Safeguarding National Security of HKSAR strongly condemns US Congress lawmakers for grossly interfering in HKSAR matters
The following is issued on behalf of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region:Hong Kong – Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases reviews use of pneumococcal vaccine in Hong Kong
The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) under the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) convened a meeting yesterday (September 26) to review the use of pneumococcal vaccine in Hong Kong. Updated recommendations were published today (September 27). The meeting reviewed the epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Experts noted that IPD was more commonly found among children aged 2 to 4 years and elderly aged 65 years or above in Hong Kong, while serotype 3 was the predominant serotype causing IPD accounting for about half of all cases recorded during 2015 to 2019.Hong Kong – Steering Committee on District Governance convenes first meeting (with photos)
The Steering Committee on District Governance chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration (CS), Mr Chan Kwok-ki, convened the first meeting today (July 12).
Mr Chan said, “With Hong Kong embarking on a new journey to advance from stability to prosperity, the Government’s district governance must keep pace with the times. The Steering Committee chaired by me will holistically strengthen high-level leadership and co-ordination, enhance the capacity and effectiveness of district governance, and respond to the needs of the community at large.”
The Steering Committee focused the discussion of the meeting on five areas of community interests, namely (1) expanding after-school care service and enhancing support for parents; (2) caring for the elderly and enhancing community support; (3) fostering clean markets and mobilising the community to participate in anti-rodent work; (4) enhancing public order and combatting crimes on all fronts; and (5) improving pedestrian facilities and ensuring road safety. The meeting formulated strategies in relation to the above five areas, which will be followed up by the Task Force on District Governance chaired by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration (DCS) to finalise relevant measures for implementation by relevant bureaux and departments.
Items identified by the Steering Committee in the five areas for implementation include:
“The Steering Committee’s discussion today covered a wide range of policy areas including support for children and the elderly, environmental hygiene, law and order, and road safety. The various items identified by the Steering Committee will not only provide better support for specific groups such as children and the elderly, but also benefit all members of the public at the district level. They will respond to people’s needs in various aspects from both the micro and macro perspectives. I will lead all bureaux and departments to work together and improve district governance, so that we can respond proactively to the aspirations of the people and enhance their sense of achievement, satisfaction and security,” Mr Chan added.
The Government announced on May 2 the proposals on improving district governance, which cover reforming the District Councils and strengthening the district governance structure. The Steering Committee chaired by the CS will take a leading role in the overall strategies, policies and measures, work priorities and resource allocation of district governance, whereas the Task Force on District Governance chaired by the DCS will steer and co-ordinate the district work of various bureaux and departments and, as necessary, co-ordinate inter-departmental and/or cross-district issues.
The terms of reference and membership of the Steering Committee are in Annex I and Annex II respectively.
Hong Kong – Chairman of Committee on Community Support for Rehabilitated Offenders reviews CSD passing-out parade (with photos)
The Correctional Services Department (CSD) held a passing-out parade at the Hong Kong Correctional Services Academy today (April 21). The Chairman of the Committee on Community Support for Rehabilitated Offenders, Ms Tsui Li, reviewed the parade, marking the graduation of 24 Officers and 63 Assistant Officers II.Ads
