The Correctional Services Department (CSD) today (August 26) released a video on the Rehabilitation Pioneer Leaders (RPLs), a newly established youth group under its Rehabilitation Pioneer Project.
      
     The RPLs are students in Form Three or above. Through various training activities, such as physical exercise, foot drills and leadership and adventure training, young persons joining as RPLs can equip themselves with skills and develop their potential. They can also help promote law-abiding and rehabilitation messages in the community while participating in volunteer activities.
      
     In the video, entitled "Rehabilitation Pioneer Leaders", the first batch of 30 RPLs speak on their valuable experiences after joining the group.
      
     Recruitment for the second batch of RPLs will start in September. Interested students may look out for the details to be announced on the "Rehabilitation Pioneer Project" Facebook page.
      
     Members of the public are welcome to watch the video, which has been uploaded to the CSD YouTube Channel at youtu.be/BGKYRuLDf2E.

      

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the CENTRAL Rat Race 2018 today (August 26):
 
Mr Ben Keswick (the Chairman of MINDSET), Mr Robert Wong (the Chief Executive of Hongkong Land), Mr David Yip (the Chairman of the Central and Western District Council), Vice-Chairman Chan (the Vice-chairman of the Central and Western District Council, Mr Chan Hok-fung), Raymond (the Executive Director of Hongkong Land, Mr Raymond Chow), Suzanne (the District Officer (Central and Western), Mrs Susanne Wong), friends and rats,
 
     It gives me great pleasure to take part in the CENTRAL Rat Race 2018 organised by Hongkong Land to raise fund for MINDSET to promote mental health in Hong Kong and on the Mainland. Rats usually pose a problem to the Government and our residents. Yet, I am so happy to see so many lovely and kind-hearted "rats" out here today for this good cause.
 
     Since its inception in 2006, this fun-filled, festive relay race has highlighted the vibrancy, quality and connectivity of the iconic Central business district, the significance of work-life balance, physical fitness and mental well-being as well as the charitable spirit of the city and its corporate community.
 
     To live in a fast-paced metropolis like Hong Kong, everyone faces various level of stress either from work, family or schools. In fact, mood or stress-related disorders are so common in Hong Kong that they make up over 50 per cent of all caseloads, or over 120 000 cases, in the psychiatric services under the Hospital Authority, are caused by stress, signifying the magnitude of the problem.
 
     To this end, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to strengthening the mental health and mental well-being of the people in Hong Kong. The Department of Health had, in the past few years, carried out a mental health promotion and education programme called Joyful@HK to increase public engagement in promoting mental well-being, and to increase public knowledge and understanding about mental health. The Advisory Committee on Mental Health chaired by former Secretary for Justice, Mr Wong Yan-lung, is now planning to launch an ongoing mental health public education and promotion initiative next year. We hope that through more robust promotion and education, we can reduce stigmatisation towards persons with mental health needs with a view to building a mental-health friendly society in Hong Kong.
 
     There is scientific evidence shows the causal relationship between good mental health and sports. And today’s event is definitely an example of how sports can upkeep one’s physical and mental health. I would like to express my warmest gratitude to the Hongkong Land for bringing about this fun annual fixture for the 13th time in a row. I must also thank participants in this yearly iconic event on Chater Road. You all bring warmth, care and compassion and concern to those under mental stress.
 
     On this note, I wish the CENTRAL Rat Race 2018 every success and hope that all you rats enjoy your day and please help us spread the importance of mental well-being wherever you go. Thank you.

      

     The first phase of the Cross-disciplined Forces Training Programme for Ethnic Minority Youth was held last month, attracting more than 100 participants.
 
     They took part in various training sessions, giving them a taste of the skills and physical requirements needed for different posts in the disciplinary forces.
 
     Apart from helping the youngsters with career planning and community integration, the initiative also boosted their sense of social responsibility and raised crime prevention awareness.
 
     News.gov.hk interviewed participants of the training camp to learn about their experiences.
 
     The story appears on news.gov.hk today (August 26) in text and video format.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) always strives to maximise the potential of its public housing sites to provide affordable public rental housing (PRH) for qualified low-income families with housing needs, irrespective development constraints amid the scarcity of land resources in Hong Kong. Long Ching Estate in Yuen Long is a good recent example.
 
     "With a small site area of only 0.43 hectares, Long Ching Estate has heavy traffic on three sides, causing significant road traffic and railway noise. Its proximity to adjacent private developments posed further constraint," a spokesman for the HA said today (August 26).
 
     "Thanks to the ingenious layout designed by the HA's architects, a noise shield was created to reduce the noise impact from road traffic and a railway on the residential flats and the inner court by adopting the stepped height of the two domestic blocks, namely Yat Long House and Ching Long House. In addition, the potential of the small site was optimised in terms of plot ratio and height limit," the spokesman said. 
 
     Located close to the railway, Yat Long House has a single-aspect block design, with all units facing the inner court so as to be oriented away from the noise sources. This 19-storey building also acts as a noise barrier for the 30-storey Ching Long House. To further mitigate noise nuisance, the architect installed noise barriers and architectural fins on the exterior walls facing On Ning Road and Wang Chau Road.
 
     "Due to the site's proximity to the adjacent private developments, the architect had to plan the positioning of the residential blocks carefully. The distance between the two domestic blocks is maintained at a minimum of 20 metres. We have also aligned the blocks with the wind corridors. This allows better overall air ventilation in the locality and minimises window-to-window views," the spokesman said.
 
     Though the estate is small in size, its facilities are comprehensive, including sitting-out areas, a playground, a tai chi court, a community farm, a multi-purpose room, chess tables and table-tennis tables. The estate also provides a car park, an eatery, a clinic and shops to cater for the daily needs of residents.
 
     Completed in 2016, Long Ching Estate provides a total of 438 PRH units. It was awarded the BEAM Plus Final Platinum rating in 2017 because of its various green initiatives.

     A video on Long Ching Estate can be viewed at the following link: d1b4exdg080h6k.cloudfront.net/news/LCE_20131106.mp4.

          

     A 26-year-old man was convicted of entering the Mai Po Marshes and Inner Deep Bay Restricted Area (the Restricted Area) without a permit at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts today (August 25) for violating Section 13 of the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap 170) (the Ordinance).

     A spokesperson for Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that officers from AFCD and Lok Ma Chau Division and Marine West Division of Police mounted a joint operation at the Restricted Area yesterday (August 24) morning to combat illegal activities there. A 26-year-old Mainland man, holding an Exit-entry permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao, was arrested at the shallow waters and found entering the Restricted Area without a permit.

     Following investigations by AFCD, the man was charged for entering a Restricted Area without a permit. He was convicted and sentenced to a fine of $1,000 today. 

     The Restricted Area, comprising a total area of about 800 hectares, includes the Mai Po Marshes, all the mangrove swamps adjoining the marshes, and the intertidal mudflats and shallow waters of Inner Deep Bay. The Ordinance stipulates that any person who enters into or be within the Restricted Area without a permit issued by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 on conviction. 

     The spokesperson stressed that illegal entry into the Restricted Area may affect both the habitats and the wild animals, especially water birds of the area. AFCD conducts patrols at the Restricted Area, and mounts joint enforcement operation with the Police from time to time with a view to controlling illegal activities there.