The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (August 17) was briefed by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, on the preparatory work of the Education Bureau (EDB) for the commencement of the new school year.
 
     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; the Permanent Secretary for Education, Mrs Ingrid Yeung; and the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin also attended the meeting.
 
     At the meeting, Mr Yeung reported that the EDB has been meeting representatives from the education sector, including school sponsoring bodies, school councils, school heads associations and educational bodies, to understand their concerns and listen to their views, with a view to promptly responding to their concerns as well as providing appropriate assistance and guidelines for them to prepare for the commencement of the school year in a timely manner.
 
     Mrs Lam and Mr Cheung had learnt that the EDB, schools and school sponsoring bodies have been and will be working on a number of issues, including the potential traffic problems at the beginning of the school year in early September, helping students resume their learning routines, creating and maintaining a peaceful and harmonious school environment, as well as handling the calls for class boycott.
 
     The Government and the education sector share the common belief that schools are places for students to study. A peaceful and orderly school environment and atmosphere is crucial to students' learning and growth. Schools should not be used by anyone to express political demand as it will not only affect normal school operations but also drag innocent and immature students into political turbulence, losing their normal learning opportunities.
 
     With the approach of the new school year, the EDB and various sectors in the community hope that a peaceful school environment will be restored with normal school operation, and that students will be able to learn in a safe, orderly and professional teaching environment which is free from interferences.
 
     Amid the social incidents in recent months, students' emotion and their peer relationships might also be affected. The EDB believed that school principals and teachers will continue to demonstrate professionalism to help students understand various issues from different perspectives and develop objective and fair analytical skills. Teachers will offer appropriate councelling to students, in collaboration with other professionals as necessary, so as to maintain a caring and harmonious school culture.
 
     Under the current difficult situation, the EDB believed school principals and teachers will maintain their professionalism and put the best interests of all students as their top priority. They will continue to stand fast at their post to teach and protect their students under all circumstances. The EDB will keep close liaison with schools and provide appropriate assistance as and when necessary.
 
     In view of possible traffic problems on the first school day, the EDB and relevant government departments will closely monitor the traffic situation and public transport services and maintain close contact with schools to ensure the smooth start of the new school year.
 
     The EDB reiterated that the HKSAR Government attaches great importance to the nurturing of young people. The Chief Executive in her 2017 Policy Address proposed to carry out in-depth reviews on eight key areas of education. Currently, six of the eight related task forces have completed their work and the government is actively following up on their recommendations. These include injecting $20 billion into the Research Endowment Fund and setting up a $3 billion Research Matching Grant Scheme. Starting from the 2019-20 school year, the "One Executive Officer for Each School" policy and the all-graduate teaching force policy will also be implemented. In addition, the government will provide a recurrent Life-wide Learning Grant, enhance support for students with special educational needs, and provide more vocational and professional education opportunities, so as to enhance the teaching and learning environment.
 
     In the past two years, the current-term Government has increased its recurrent expenditure by at least $8.3 billion for the implementation of a series of education measures. The current-term Government's commitment to quality education will not change in future.
 

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     The report room services of Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station are now temporarily suspended. Police appeal to members of the public not to obstruct the emergency vehicles access so as to avoid affecting the emergency services provided to the public. In case of emergency, please call 999.
 

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (August 17) that due to special circumstances that will possibly happen nearby, all facilities of Kowloon Park in Yau Tsim Mong District and To Kwa Wan Public Library in Kowloon City District have been closed. Subject to the situation in the vicinity, more cultural and leisure facilities in the same districts and any other districts which may be affected will also be closed early and at short notice to ensure the safety of venue users. Members of the public who plan to go to those venues are advised to contact the venues concerned in advance.
 

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     A large group of protestors are currently surrounding the Mong Kok Police Station, aiming laser beams at police officers and hurled miscellaneous objects, posing a serious threat to the safety of police officers at scene.  Police warn protestors to stop their illegal acts immediately. 
      
     Police will disperse protestors shortly and appeal to protestors and other members of the public at scene to leave immediately.
 

     Hong Kong Customs today (August 17) held a graduation parade and awards presentation ceremony at the Hong Kong Customs College for the foundation course of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Badge Programme for Youth Ambassadors organised under the Youth Ambassador Against Internet Piracy Scheme (YAS). A total of 101 Youth Ambassadors were awarded the certificate for completing the Programme this year.

     Speaking at the ceremony, the Acting Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, said the department has all along strived to combat infringing activities and to promote public awareness of respecting and protecting IPR through education and publicity.

     Ms Ho added that the YAS has achieved remarkable results. She also congratulated the participants on their graduation and encouraged them to actively protect IPR and undertake the role of an ambassador to publicise the idea of protecting IPR.

     The six-day foundation course from August 12 to 17 that the 101 Youth Ambassadors completed covered a wide range of areas. Apart from participating in exchange activities related to innovation and technology in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the participants also visited a number of innovative and creative enterprises to gather the latest developments of intellectual property in all directions and experience the importance of IPR towards creativities.

     They participated in training on discipline, physical, parade and leadership and had the opportunity to undergo shooting exercises. They also visited the Government Flying Service and the High Court. The participants were able to broaden their horizons as well as increase their knowledge of protecting IPR through the diversified training.

     Apart from the course completion certificates, Best Recruit Awards, Best Leadership Awards and Best Parade Member Awards were also presented by the officaiting guests to the participants with outstanding performances in recognition of their achievements during the course.

     The Director of Intellectual Property, Mr David Wong; the Legislative Council Member, Ms Yung Hoi-yan; and the Director of the Association of Hong Kong Professionals, Dr Chan Kin-keung; joined Ms Ho to officiate at the ceremony.

     The YAS has been jointly carried out by Hong Kong Customs, the Intellectual Property Department and the intellectual property industry since 2006. Its membership includes more than 250 000 members from 14 local youth uniformed groups whose ages range between 9 and 25.

     In 2016, Hong Kong Customs introduced the IPR Badge Programme for Youth Ambassadors with the aim of strengthening awareness among youths for respecting and protecting IPR with a systematic approach and to foster them to set an example for their families, relatives and peers in daily life.