Following is the speech by the Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, at Ying Wa College's speech day today (December 14):
 
Mr Cheng (Principal of Ying Wa College, Mr Allan Cheng), Reverend Chan (School Pastor, Reverend Chan Tak-yee), Professor Chan (School Supervisor, Professor Chan Ying-shing), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 
 
    Good evening. It is my great pleasure to join you on this memorable occasion.
 
    I would like first to extend my warmest congratulations to all graduates. Today marks the completion of your secondary school education, as well as the beginning of a new chapter in your lives. Apart from the guidance of your principal and teachers, your parents' support and love over the years are also indispensable to your accomplishments. On this special day, you should all say a big thank you to them.
 
    This year sees the 200th anniversary of Ying Wa College. The school's achievements over the last two centuries are exemplary. Founded in 1818, Ying Wa College is one of the leading schools in Hong Kong renowned for its history and tradition. Throughout these years, the College has nurtured generations of outstanding graduates who have played a significant part in the continuous development of Hong Kong.
 
    In keeping with the school motto of "Steadfast Faith, Beneficent Deeds", Ying Wa College has strived to provide a conducive learning environment for students to develop their diverse potential and positive attitude towards life. The school's devotion to fostering an atmosphere that encourages the all-round development of students is widely acclaimed by both parents and students. Besides, with the improvement to school facilities and addition of a new annex to the campus, including a swimming pool and a running track, students are now offered even more opportunities for multifarious learning experiences through a wide range of extra-curricular activities.
 
    Over the past two centuries, Ying Wa College has attached great importance to the provision of diversified learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom. As a school under the Direct Subsidy Scheme, the College has made effective and flexible use of its financial resources to provide students with different learning opportunities and create a multi-cultural learning environment. Some shining examples include events organised for celebrating the school's 200th anniversary such as the Bicentennial Christian Leadership Training Trip in Toronto, the Bicentennial Concert, as well as the Conference on Sino-Western Cultural Exchange and the Development of Christianity in China. These activities have not only enhanced students' sense of belonging to the school, but also broadened their horizons.
 
    The delivery of holistic education offered by Ying Wa College and its team of professional educators has successfully equipped students with the essential skills that future leaders should possess and developed in them the qualities of being "Simple and Unadorned, Outstanding but Humble". For all graduates, regardless if you choose to further your studies or start your career, you will definitely meet new challenges in future. Irrespective of the path you take, there will always be ample opportunities for you to learn. The knowledge, values and skills that you have acquired in school lay a solid foundation for your new ventures, playing a pivotal role in the community and contributing to the sustainable development of Hong Kong.
 
    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government believes that young people are the pillars of society and the valuable assets of Hong Kong. Government expenditure on education is the most meaningful investment for our future. To create a caring, inspiring and satisfying learning environment for students, we have introduced a series of new measures covering different aspects to further improve the quality of education. From the 2019/20 school year, we will provide public sector schools and schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme with additional resources to strengthen their administrative support, and Ying Wa College is among the schools that can benefit from this initiative. Another significant measure is the provision of a new recurrent Life-wide Learning Grant starting from the 2019/20 school year. The aim is to support schools in significantly enhancing life-wide learning activities so that students can learn in authentic contexts and expand their knowledge.
 
    Life planning education is also an important element in secondary school education. As announced in the 2018 Policy Address, the HKSAR Government will continue to support secondary schools in implementing life planning education and related guidance services. In parallel, we will strengthen the professional development of teachers and mobilise more business organisations to provide career exploration activities for students through district development networks so as to help secondary school students better understand different careers and prepare them for further studies and future employment.
 
    With the recent development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, more promising opportunities will generate for Hong Kong's young people including our graduates today. To this end, the HKSAR Government provides an average of more than 70 000 annual places for Hong Kong young people to participate in exchange and internship programmes in Mainland China and overseas to be organised, funded or co-ordinated by the Government to enhance our young people's understanding of national development and opportunities on the Mainland and broaden their international outlook. 
 
    For graduates today, you must learn to adapt to the ever-changing world and be ready to face new challenges by acquiring new knowledge and skills. It is also important to gain more exposure before making a career choice. Your journey of lifelong learning has just begun. Be sure to seize every opportunity and be prepared for challenges ahead.
 
    On this note, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the principal and teachers of Ying Wa College for their dedicated efforts in offering quality education. I also wish the College continuous success in the decades ahead. To our graduates today, I wish you every success in your future endeavours, and to everyone here a happy and healthy new year. Thank you.

      The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Twilight" on December 10, 12 and 13. A total of 27 illegal workers and three suspected employers were arrested.
      
      During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided 25 target locations including a function room, a commercial building, a massage parlour, a beauty centre, a recycling site, residential buildings and restaurants. Twenty seven illegal workers and three employers were arrested. The illegal workers comprised 20 men and seven women aged 21 to 56. Among them, one man was holder of a recognisance form, which prohibits him from taking any employment. In addition, one man and three women were suspected of using and being in possession of forged Hong Kong identity cards. Meanwhile, two men and one woman, aged 25 to 58, were suspected of employing the illegal workers.
      
       "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties," an ImmD spokesman said.
 
       The spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order are prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. The Court of Appeal has issued a guideline ruling that a sentence of 15 months' imprisonment should be applied in such cases. It is an offence to use or possess a forged Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years' imprisonment.
      
      The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for three years and a fine of $350,000. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. According to court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. The maximum penalty for failing to inspect such a document is imprisonment for one year and a fine of $150,000.
      
      Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threat and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent interference, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments.

  

     The Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, visited Tsuen Wan District this afternoon (December 14) to learn more about the latest developments and needs of the community. He also met with the Chairman of the Tsuen Wan District Council (TWDC), Mr Chung Wai-ping, and local District Council members to exchange views on district matters.

     Accompanied by the District Officer (Tsuen Wan), Miss Jenny Yip, Mr Wong first visited Tsuen Wan town centre to gain a better understanding of the latest developments in the area. He also listened to the views and suggestions of the District Council on its future planning, including exploring the "single site, multiple use" model for multistorey developments on government land in order to consolidate and provide more government and community facilities and make optimal use of limited land resources.

     He then proceeded to the Tsuen Wan Promenade and was briefed on details of the enhancement works to be carried out at the waterfront.

     Before concluding his visit, Mr Wong met with members of the TWDC and exchanged views on district matters and issues of concern to local residents.

      

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) today (December 14) announced the findings and recommendations of the Investigation Report regarding an incident related to oxygen supply during a patient transfer:

     A male patient with chronic illness was admitted to the hospital on September 27 for severe acute pneumonia and later developed respiratory failure. He was connected to a ventilator to assist his breathing. He was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit on the following night as his condition had not improved. The healthcare staff later found that the self-inflating ventilation bag used during the transfer was not connected to an oxygen cylinder. The patient finally succumbed on September 30.

     QEH reported the incident to the Hospital Authority (HA) Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. A Root Cause Analysis Panel was formed to investigate the incident. The Panel has come to the following conclusions:

1. The healthcare workers in the ward had to resuscitate another critically ill patient at the same time that evening. The nurses involved were relatively inexperienced for handling such an emergency situation.

2. As the patient had deteriorated to an extremely critical condition, the clinical team had made every endeavour to salvage the patient. The clinical team intended to transfer the patient to the Intensive Care Unit as soon as possible. Due to lack of communication among the staff in the highly stressful emergency situation, the checking of equipment and medical documentation for patient transfer were not yet complete.

3. In view of the seriousness and the rapidly deteriorating medical condition of the patient, even without the incident during the transfer, the clinical situation of the patient might not be significantly different.

     The panel made the following recommendations:

1. Enforce proper checking of all the medical equipment and documentation on the checklist for transfer and escort of critically ill patients before transfer.

2. Enhance communication and collaboration among members of the clinical team during transfer of critically ill patients to safeguard the safety of the patient.

3. Enforce the practice of optimally stabilising the patient's condition before transfer and seeking help and support from more experienced staff for difficult situations.

     The hospital is saddened by the patient's passing away and expresses its deepest condolences to the family. The hospital has explained the investigation report to the patient's family and will keep close contact with them. The hospital has accepted the Panel's findings and recommendations, and submitted the investigation report to the HA Head Office.

     The Under Secretary for Transport and Housing, Dr Raymond So Wai-man, today (December 14) attended a ceremony in support of the Safe Driving and Health Campaign organised by the Transport Department (TD) and encouraged commercial vehicle drivers to drive safely and maintain good health.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, Dr So said that inattentive driving and speeding as well as turning and reversing at blind spots are the major causes of traffic accidents. He pointed out that there were about 10 000 deaths and casualties in traffic accidents involving commercial vehicles in the first 10 months of this year, accounting for 63 per cent of the overall deaths and casualties. The Government therefore will strive to enhance the driving attitudes and habits of commercial vehicle drivers.
 
     Regarding a serious traffic accident involving a non-franchised bus (NFB) in the past month, Dr So said that the Government and the trade are studying together on a number of measures including installation of seat belts on newly purchased NFBs, the use of technologies to enhance operational safety and formulating guidelines on working hours and rest time for NFB drivers. He also called on passengers to fasten seat belts properly if provided so as to ensure personal safety.
 
     Moreover, Dr So added that the Government is very concerned about drink driving and drug driving. He noted that although there was a downward trend of the number of arrests in relation to these two offences last year, the Government will spare no effort in carrying on its publicity work to heighten the vigilance of commercial vehicle drivers for public safety.
 
     Dr So reminded drivers to stay alert to their health conditions and take rest appropriately for the sake of attentive driving. The TD arranged free health check-ups for more than 1 900 commercial vehicle drivers last year and the free health check-up campaign this year has also started. Dr So appealed to commercial vehicle drivers to make a reservation for a check-up. They can also encourage their counterparts to join the campaign.
 
     In addition, the TD will continue to disseminate road safety messages to commercial vehicle drivers through seminars and workshops, regular meetings with the public transport sector and free publications for the trade.
 
     This is the 10th consecutive year that the TD has organised the Safe Driving and Health Campaign. Besides the four main themes, i.e. observing good driving attitudes, respecting other road users, not driving after drinking or taking drugs, and maintaining good health at all times, a new theme of "mutual respect between drivers and passengers" is added this year. With mutual respect and politeness between drivers and passengers, commercial vehicle drivers can keep in a good mood when driving, thus enhancing road safety.
 
     Other officiating guests at today's ceremony included the Commissioner for Transport, Ms Mable Chan; the Chairperson of the Road Safety Council, Mr Tang Ping-keung; the Chairman of the Transport Advisory Committee, Professor Stephen Cheung; and the Chairperson of the Road Safety Campaign Committee of the Road Safety Council, Miss Ma Ka-wai.