Police will implement the following special traffic arrangements in various districts to facilitate grave-sweepers, and to ensure smooth vehicular traffic movements and pedestrian safety during Chung Yeung Festival. Cha… read more
Police today (October 16) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Kwai Chung. Zhang Cheng, aged 36, went missing after she was last seen in a hostel on Tai Loong Street … read more
Attention TV/radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (October 16) that Anglers’ Beach and Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach in Tsuen Wan District and Lo So Shing Beach in Islands District will reopen tomorrow (October 17). These beaches were temporarily closed earlier for clearance of debris and fallen trees as well as repairs of shark prevention nets and beach facilities after the typhoon.
Nine beaches under the LCSD have been reopened recently. They are Butterfly Beach, Castle Peak Beach, Kadoorie Beach, Cafeteria Old Beach, Cafeteria New Beach and Golden Beach in Tuen Mun District; Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Approach Beach in Tsuen Wan District; and Repulse Bay Beach in Southern District.
Meanwhile, other gazetted beaches in Southern, Tsuen Wan, Islands and Sai Kung Districts, including Deep Water Bay Beach which is normally open all year round, will remain closed until further notice as much longer time is needed for repairing beach facilities and damaged shark prevention nets or clearing debris due to the severe damage brought about by the typhoon earlier. Red flags have been hoisted at these beaches.
The LCSD reminds members of the public not to go to the beaches that are temporarily closed, and not to swim or participate in other activities at those beaches for the sake of safety. read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (October 16) investigating an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in a secondary school in Southern District, and again urged the public, schools and institutions to maintain strict hand, personal and environmental hygiene.
The outbreak affected 22 male students, aged 12 to 17, who have developed oral ulcers, rash and vesicles over hands or feet since September 27. All of them sought medical attention and none required hospitalisation. All patients are in a stable condition.
Officers of the CHP have conducted a site visit to the school and advised the management on necessary infection control and preventive measures. The school has been put under medical surveillance. Investigations are ongoing.
“HFMD is common in children while adult cases may also appear. It is usually caused by enteroviruses (EVs) such as Coxsackie virus and EV71. It is clinically characterised by maculopapular rashes or vesicular lesions occurring on the palms, soles and other parts of the body such as the buttocks and thighs. Vesicular lesions and ulcers may also be found in the oral cavity. Sometimes patients present mainly with painful ulcers at the back of the mouth, namely herpangina, without rash on the hands or feet,” a spokesman for the CHP said.
“HFMD occurs throughout the year. While the disease activity is usually higher from May to July, a smaller peak may also occur from October to December. As young children are more susceptible, parents should stay alert to their health. Institutional outbreaks may occur where HFMD can easily spread among young children with close contact,” the spokesman added.
To prevent HFMD, members of the public, and especially the management of institutions, should take heed of the following preventive measures:
The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
The Quality Assurance Council (QAC) today (October 16) released the Audit Report on the sub-degree operations of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU).
The Audit Report presents the findings on the quality of learning at the sub-degree providing units (SDPUs) of HKBU. The Chairman of the QAC, Mr Lincoln Leong, said, “The QAC is pleased that the Audit Panel concludes that there is effective management of academic quality and standards within the SDPUs of HKBU, which undertake quality assurance in accordance with University expectations. There is also clear evidence of a student-centred culture and a caring attitude towards students. HKBU is in the process of strengthening its arrangements for the oversight of sub-degree provision.”
The QAC is pleased with the quality of educational provision at the SDPUs of HKBU. The University’s efforts in various areas are commended in the Audit Report. These include the SDPUs’ student-centred approach in teaching and learning and student development; the University’s strong support for the professional development of staff across SDPUs; and the planning, implementation and monitoring of the adoption of outcomes-based teaching and learning and criterion referenced assessment in the programmes of the College of International Education (one of the four SDPUs of HKBU).
The full report (with HKBU’s Institutional Response attached) has been uploaded to the website of the University Grants Committee (UGC) (www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/qac/about/term/publications/report.html).
HKBU has agreed to submit a progress report within 18 months on its follow-up actions.
Background of the quality audit on sub-degree operations of HKBU
————————————————————————–
The quality audit on the sub-degree operations of HKBU was undertaken by an Audit Panel appointed by the QAC. The Audit Panel was chaired by Emeritus Professor Joan Cooper, and members included Professor Grahame Bilbow, Emeritus Professor Peter Bush, Emeritus Professor Deborah Clayton and Professor Peter Yuen. The Panel reviewed the Institutional Submission, which was prepared by HKBU following a period of self-study, and visited HKBU from January 16 to 18, 2018, to meet with its staff and students. It also met with a number of external stakeholders, such as local employers and graduates of HKBU sub-degree programmes.
Background of the QAC and its auditing activities
——————————————————-
The QAC was established in April 2007 as a semi-autonomous non-statutory body under the aegis of the UGC. The UGC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the quality of the UGC-funded universities and their activities. In view of the institutional expansion of university activities and a growing public interest in quality issues, the QAC was established to assist the UGC in providing third-party oversight of the quality of the universities’ educational provision. The QAC assists the UGC in assuring the quality of all programmes at the levels of sub-degree, first degree and above (however funded) offered in UGC-funded universities. The QAC fulfils this task primarily by undertaking periodic quality audits of the universities.
Auditing is an external quality assurance process that involves independent peer review by senior academics in the higher education sector. Its principal aims are to confirm that existing arrangements for quality assurance are fit for purpose, that the quality of provision is comparable to international best practices, that universities are committed to continuously improving the quality of their academic programmes, and that students are well taught and well supported so that they are able to achieve the expected academic standards.
Prior to 2016, the QAC’s audit activities covered only first degree programmes and above. The first and second QAC audit cycles were completed in 2011 and 2016 respectively. In 2016, the UGC assumed the role of the overseeing body of the quality audits on the sub-degree operations of UGC-funded universities, with the involvement of the QAC as the audit operator. The audit visits to universities in this cycle are being conducted up till early 2019. read more