â€‹To enhance non-Chinese speaking students' interest and confidence in learning the Chinese language and to showcase their learning achievements, the Education Bureau (EDB) jointly organised the Chinese Writing and Talent Competition for Non-Chinese Speaking Students with the Yau Tsim Mong District School Liaison Committee, Sai Kung District School Heads Association, Yaumati Kaifong Association School and Hong Kong Taoist Association The Yuen Yuen Institute No. 3 Secondary School this school year. Over 300 primary and secondary students participated in the competition and demonstrated outstanding performances.
      
     The competition covered storytelling, verse speaking and writing. In the process, students had to incorporate their knowledge of the Chinese language and their life experience and feelings into different activities of the competition. The adjudicators fully appreciated the active participation and dedication of the students, as well as the talent and good language competence they demonstrated.   
      
     Speaking at the award ceremony today (June 29), the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said that language learning takes place not only in classrooms but also in daily life. The competition aimed to provide non-Chinese speaking students with more opportunities to learn Chinese through activities outside classrooms, with a view to enhancing their interest and confidence. 
      
     She commended the outstanding performances of the students in the competition, which demonstrated not only their language proficiency, but also their creativity, articulation of feelings expressed in the pieces, and their perseverance and determination to overcome difficulties. She encouraged students to continue their dedication and diligence in learning Chinese, because there is are no short cuts and success can only be achieved with effort. She also advised schools and parents to strengthen their communication, co-operation and support to assist non-Chinese speaking students in mastering the Chinese language.  
      
     Apart from prize presentations the ceremony also included performances by winners, an exhibition of the winning pieces and a sharing session by guests. Two non-Chinese speaking guests also spoke about their experience and effective ways of learning Chinese. They encouraged students to devote sustained efforts to learning Chinese so that they could put their learning to good use, unleash their potential and contribute to society.
      
     For details of the competition, the winning pieces and students' performances, please visit the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/curriculum-development/kla/chi-edu/second-lang/activities.html).

          

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (June 29) said that 13 general out-patient clinics (see table below) will provide services on Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day next Monday (July 1). Members of the public are reminded to make advance booking through the telephone booking system as usual for an appointment.  
 
     The spokesperson remarked that the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments in public hospitals will also operate as usual during the holiday to serve the patients with urgent medical needs. The established triage system will ensure priority treatment for critical and emergency patients according to their clinical conditions. The queuing time is expected to be longer for semi-urgent and non-urgent patients as there may be more patients seeking consultation at A&E Departments during the holiday. The HA appeals to the public for their understanding and co-operation while waiting for consultations. Non-urgent patients are advised to consider seeking consultations at general out-patient clinics, private doctors or the 24-hour clinics of private hospitals.
 
     To help find an appropriate family doctor and related clinic service of their choice, members of the public can also browse the Primary Care Directory of the Department of Health at www.pcdirectory.gov.hk.
 

 
Consultation Hours:
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm

     To enhance the transparency of learning programmes recognised under the Qualifications Framework (QF), the Education Bureau announced today (June 29) the implementation of indication of QF credit for learning programmes at QF levels 5 to 7 on the Qualifications Register (QR) from 2020 onwards. 
      
     With effect from September 1, 2020, non-self-accrediting operators will have to indicate the QF credit for their newly registered learning programmes at QF levels 5 to 7 (except for research-based programmes) on the QR. With effect from September 1, 2022, they will have to indicate the QF credit for all learning programmes at QF levels 5 to 7 (except for research-based programmes) on the QR. 
      
     As for self-accrediting operators, given that they have their own accreditation system, it is voluntary for them to indicate the QF credit of their learning programmes at QF levels 5 to 7 on the QR. For reference by the QR users and the general public, two common types of programmes offered by self-accrediting operators, namely full-time, four-year bachelor's degree programmes and full-time, one-year taught master's degree programmes, will be given a remark indicating a range of QF credits on the QR starting from September 1, 2020, if self-accrediting operators do not indicate the QF credit of such programmes on the QR.
      
     "The indication of the QF credit for learning programmes at QF levels 5 to 7 on the QR provides clear and transparent information on the learning volume of programmes, thus serving the best interests of the learning community. It also strengthens the infrastructure of the QF in Hong Kong in line with overseas development," a spokesperson for the Education Bureau said.
      
     "Since January 1, 2016, all learning programmes at QF levels 1 to 4 have shown the QF credit on the QR. The implementation of indication of the QF credit for programmes at QF levels 1 to 4 has been very smooth and successful. Operators are now familiar with the concepts and principles of the QF credit and ready to move forward."
      
     The QF is a seven-level hierarchy that defines clear and objective standards applicable to qualifications in the academic, vocational, professional and continuing education sectors. Each QF-recognised qualification is assigned a QF level in accordance with the outcome standards (knowledge and skills assessable and attainable) expected of the qualification. QF level 7 is the highest while QF level 1 is the lowest. The QF credit measures the volume or size of learning of a qualification, which allows learners to understand the effort and time expected of an average learner to complete the learning process successfully and attain the learning outcomes of the relevant qualification. One QF credit consists of 10 notional learning hours.
      
     Details of the implementation plan can be downloaded from the QF website: www.hkqf.gov.hk.

     The Fire Services Department has enhanced training for its front-line members and introduced new tools and equipment ahead of this year's typhoon season.
 
     News.gov.hk spoke with the department to learn about how it is preparing to face the threat of increasingly extreme weather.
 
     The story appears on news.gov.hk today (June 29) in text and video format.

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements tomorrow (June 30) to facilitate a public order event to be held on Hong Kong Island.

     The following roads will be intermittently closed from 11.45am until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:
     
– Eastbound Des Voeux Road Central;
– Eastbound Queensway between Des Voeux Road Central and Rodney Street;
– Rodney Street; and
– If necessary, the first right lane of Garden Road flyover.

     Vehicles may not be permitted to access or leave car parks along the route during the road closure period.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.