The Hong Kong Police Force today (April 28) held the Junior Police Call 45th Anniversary Open Day launching ceremony at JPC@Pat Heung.

     Officiating at the ceremony, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, praised the Junior Police Call (JPC) as a key player in mobilising youth development and its initiatives echoed with the Government’s youth policy. JPC@Pat Heung has provided leadership and personal growth training to over 40,000 local and ethnic minority youths since its opening in 2017.
 
     Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Lo Wai-chung, said the Force always spares no effort in youth development. The Force would continue to enhance the JPC scheme with a view to nurturing its members to become fight crime leaders and role models of the youth.

     The open day offered a rich diversity of programmes, including a joint counter terrorism exercise as well as Police Band and Police Dog Unit performances. There were also display of special Police vehicles and uniforms in different eras. Some 20 exhibitions and game booths were also set up by various Police units, JPC members, arts and sports clubs for visitors.

     In addition, visitors could also take part in activities such as zipline, rope course, mini-Police uniform photographing, laser gun shooting, horse riding, and Dialogue in the Dark, experiencing the services and facilities of JPC@Pat Heung. The JPC History Museum, which was officially opened today, presented the development of JPC with a 13-metre interactive wall.

     Today’s open day is one of the highlights of the Hong Kong Police Force 175th Anniversary celebration, attracting the participation of more than 4,000 visitors. Other celebratory events include open days of police buildings, publication of a commemorative book, and release of special stamps. For details, please visit the Police Public Page (www.police.gov.hk).

      

     To tie in with 4.23 World Book Day, the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department organises the 4.23 World Book Day Creative Competition annually. The prize presentation ceremony this year was held at the Hong Kong Central Library today (April 28) to recognise the outstanding performance of the participants.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li, said that this year's Competition, carrying the theme "Let's Share the Joy of Reading", expected that participating students could enrich their lives, through the joy of reading and writing, by making a habit of reading.
 
     She noted that this year's competition received an overwhelming response, with over 1 500 entries from more than 240 schools.
 
     The competition consisted of four categories: junior primary students designed book covers to show their beloved book or a chapter of it; senior primary students wrote letters to teachers, family members or friends to describe their favourite printed or electronic book that touched them emotionally; junior secondary students wrote essays on the topic "Reading makes me …" to introduce a printed or electronic book and share their views; and senior secondary students wrote essays illustrating their experience of reading and describing their insights on the theme "One's Journey in Reading".
 
     Winning entries were selected from each category, with 25 chosen from junior primary, 15 from senior primary Chinese, 16 from junior secondary Chinese, 12 from senior secondary Chinese, eight each from senior primary English and junior secondary English, and five from senior secondary English.
 
     The winning students were each awarded a $500 book coupon, a medal and a certificate. A trophy will also be awarded to the school of each winner.
 
     Winning entries from the competition will be on display at the Exhibition Gallery of the Hong Kong Central Library from tomorrow (April 29) to May 13, followed by a roving exhibition at 20 public libraries and the Hong Kong Book Fair. The winning entries will also be uploaded to www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/extension-activities/event-category/23428/4-23-world-book-day.
 
     This creative competition is part of the ongoing Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao library collaboration and exchange programme. Shenzhen Library, Shenzhen Children's Library, the Sun Yat-Sen Library of Guangdong Province and Macao Public Library have also organised competitions under the same theme. The winning entries will be displayed in their respective libraries.
 
     Other guests attending the presentation ceremony today included the President of the Hong Kong Teacher-Librarians' Association, Ms Wong Ngai-kuen; the Curriculum Development Officer of the Curriculum Development Institute, Education Bureau, Mr Wong Kin-fung; and the Reading Promotion Project Leaders of the Shenzhen Children's Library, Ms Yin Jiani and Mr Zhong Fukang.
 
     The launching ceremony of "Fun Reading at Hong Kong Public Transportation" was also held at Whitty Street Tram Depot in Sai Wan today. This is an outreach paired reading activity jointly organised by the HKPL and Hapischool Reading Club. The Assistant Director (Libraries and Development) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Miss Rochelle Lau, officiated at the ceremony. Other officiating guests included the Co-Founder of Hapischool Reading Club, Mr Kenny Or; the Manager of Hong Kong Trams Store, Mr Eric Lee; and artiste Moses Chan.
 
     The first tram-themed session was held immediately after the launching ceremony. After boarding a tram, parents and children began their fun reading journey on an iconic type of Hong Kong transport. "Fun Reading at Hong Kong Public Transportation" aims to take participants beyond libraries to read picture books and learn more about the city.
 
     The upcoming sessions will visit a bus depot and the MTR Safety Experience zone as well as sail on the Dukling. Parents and kids are welcome to join the reading journey. Registration can be done online on www.hkpl.gov.hk/tc/extension-activities/event-category/150712/fun-reading-at-hong-kong-public-transportation. Seats are limited and interested families are advised to note the registration periods.
 
     Details of the fun-packed activities are available on the HKPL's website (www.hkpl.gov.hk) and its newly launched "Reading is Joyful" Facebook page (www.facebook.com/readingisjoyful) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/readingisjoyful).

            

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 27) seized about 400 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1.1 million and a duty potential of about $800,000 in Kowloon Bay.
 
     Acting on information, Customs officers searched a truck at a logistics site in Kowloon Bay yesterday and found the suspected illicit cigarettes mix-loaded with other goods onboard the truck in 50 carton boxes.
 
     The 53-year-old male driver was arrested and the truck was detained. Investigation is ongoing.
 
     Smuggling is a serious offence.  Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to the Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:

     The Liquor Licensing Board will meet on Tuesday (April 30) to consider seven applications for new issue, renewal and amendment of liquor licences.

     The applications are (not in order of discussion):
 
Hong Kong:
——–
11 Westside and Winstons Coffee in Kennedy Town
AVENGERS and Shahrazad in Central
Le Quinze Vins Hong Kong in Wan Chai
 
Kowloon:
——–
Penthouse 2 in Prince Edward
 
New Territories:
——–
FREE HOUSE BAR AND CAFE in Tai Po
 
     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Members of the public are welcome to attend, except during the private session on confidential items.

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting today (April 28).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.