The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will release "The Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address" on Wednesday (October 16).
 
     The full text of the Policy Address will be released at www.policyaddress.gov.hk after the Chief Executive has completed his speech.
 
     Copies of the Policy Address and other related publications will be available for public collection from the time the Chief Executive has completed his speech at the 20 Home Affairs Enquiry Centres (HAECs) of the Home Affairs Department (HAD). Please browse the HAD website (www.had.gov.hk/en/public_services/public_enquiry_services/ctec.htm) for the opening hours of the HAECs.
 
     Leaflets containing the highlights of the Policy Address will also be available at the following places:
 
* 16 government office buildings:
 
Queensway Government Offices, Admiralty
Immigration Tower, Wan Chai
Revenue Tower, Wan Chai
Wanchai Tower, Wan Chai
North Point Government Offices
Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices
Ho Man Tin Government Offices
Lai Chi Kok Government Offices
Mongkok Government Offices
Trade and Industry Tower, Kowloon City
To Kwa Wan Government Offices
West Kowloon Government Offices, Yau Ma Tei
Sha Tin Government Offices
Tai Hing Government Offices, Tuen Mun
Tai Po Government Offices
Tsuen Wan Government Offices
 
* Seven public libraries:
 
Hong Kong Central Library, Causeway Bay
City Hall Public Library, Central
Kowloon Public Library, Kowloon City
Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library, Yuen Long
Sha Tin Public Library
Tsuen Wan Public Library
Tuen Mun Public Library
 
*Five museums:

Hong Kong Museum of Art
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Hong Kong Museum of History
Hong Kong Science Museum
Hong Kong Space Museum

* 61 shopping centres in public housing estates:
 
Hong Kong
———–
Siu Sai Wan Plaza, Chai Wan
Wan Tsui Shopping Centre, Chai Wan
Oi Tung Shopping Centre, Shau Kei Wan
Hing Tung Shopping Centre, Shau Kei Wan
Stanley Plaza, Stanley
Wah Fu (II) Commercial Complex, Aberdeen
Shek Pai Wan Shopping Centre, Aberdeen
 
Kowloon
———
Lei Yue Mun Plaza, Yau Tong
Yau Lai Shopping Centre, Yau Tong
Kai Tin Shopping Centre, Lam Tin
Tsui Ping North Shopping Circuit, Kwun Tong
Shun Lee Commercial Centre, Kwun Tong
On Kay Commercial Centre, Ngau Tau Kok
Lok Wah Commercial Centre, Ngau Tau Kok
Sau Mau Ping Shopping Centre, Sau Mau Ping
Tsz Wan Shan Shopping Centre, Tsz Wan Shan
Choi Wan Commercial Complex, Ngau Chi Wan
Chuk Yuen Plaza, Wong Tai Sin
Temple Mall South, Wong Tai Sin
Fung Tak Shopping Centre, Diamond Hill
Lok Fu Place, Wang Tau Hom
Shek Kip Mei Shopping Centre, Sham Shui Po
Hoi Fu Shopping Centre, Mong Kok
Oi Man Plaza, Ho Man Tin
Homantin Plaza, Ho Man Tin
 
New Territories East
———————
Choi Yuen Plaza, Sheung Shui
Ching Ho Shopping Centre, Sheung Shui
Fu Shin Shopping Centre, Tai Po
Tai Wo Plaza, Tai Po
Heng On Commercial Centre, Ma On Shan
Yan On Shopping Centre, Ma On Shan
Mei Tin Shopping Centre, Sha Tin
Hin Keng Shopping Centre, Sha Tin
Kwong Yuen Shopping Centre, Sha Tin
Sha Kok Commercial Centre, Sha Tin
Mei Lam Commercial Centre, Sha Tin
Wo Che Plaza, Sha Tin
Pok Hong Shopping Centre, Sha Tin
Yue Tin Court Commercial Centre, Sha Tin
Shui Chuen O Plaza, Sha Tin
Shek Mun Shopping Centre, Sha Tin
Queens Hill Shopping Centre, Fanling
TKO Gateway, Tseung Kwan O
Po Lam Shopping Centre, Tseung Kwan O
TKO Spot, Tseung Kwan O
 
New Territories West and Islands
———————————-
T Town, Tin Shui Wai
Tin Shui Shopping Centre, Tin Shui Wai
Tin Yan Shopping Centre, Tin Shui Wai
Tin Ching Shopping Centre, Tin Shui Wai
Long Ping Commercial Centre, Yuen Long
Long Shin Shopping Centre, Yuen Long
Butterfly Plaza, Tuen Mun
Leung King Plaza, Tuen Mun
Tai Hing Commercial Centre, Tuen Mun
Siu Hong Commercial Centre, Tuen Mun
Yan Tin Shopping Centre, Tuen Mun
Hung Fuk Shopping Centre, Hung Shui Kiu
Cheung Fat Plaza, Tsing Yi
Lei Muk Shue Shopping Centre, Tsuen Wan
Kwai Chung Shopping Centre, Kwai Chung
Fu Tung Plaza, Tung Chung
 
     The public can watch the live broadcast of the delivery of the speech by the Chief Executive in the Legislative Council and the press conference with a simple click into the Policy Address webpage (www.policyaddress.gov.hk).
 
     They can also access "The Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address" webpage through the e-Stations located at the 20 HAECs in the 18 Districts.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (October 16) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Chief Executive will deliver the Policy Address.

     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the "Webcast" system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) today (October 14) announced that the Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme (HKSES) will, from today until December 31, be open for applications from eligible Hong Kong students who intend to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies at world-renowned universities outside Hong Kong starting from the 2025/26 academic year.
                         
     A spokesman for the EDB said, "As a merit-based scheme targeting the most outstanding Hong Kong students, the HKSES seeks to cultivate a cadre of brilliant young achievers with a sense of social responsibility and national identity, an affection for Hong Kong and an international perspective, who will return home after receiving world-class education supported by the scholarship to enrich Hong Kong's talent pool and competitiveness in the long run. Selection will be based on candidates' academic achievements and other attributes such as leadership qualities and potential as well as their contributions and commitment to society. Awardees are required to complete their specific study programmes and undertake to return to Hong Kong upon graduation to work for at least two years or a period equivalent to the duration of the scholarship received, whichever is longer."
                         
     Awardees will receive a non-means-tested scholarship to cover their tuition fees, subject to a ceiling of $300,000 per annum. In addition, the HKSES will provide additional support to financially needy awardees during their studies. Awardees who have passed the means test will receive a bursary of up to $200,000 per student per annum, to cover their living and study-related expenses. The value of the award will be correspondingly reduced if an awardee also receives other awards, both locally and abroad, or assistance to finance his or her same studies overseas.
                         
     Apart from the monetary scholarship, the value of the HKSES also lies in its prestige and recognition as well as other non-monetary benefits. Awardees will receive a series of support and mentorship services to be rendered by the Government and other sectors of the community.
                         
     More details on the HKSES are available on the HKSES website (hkses.edb.gov.hk). Eligible students who intend to pursue their first year of undergraduate or postgraduate studies at world-renowned universities outside Hong Kong in the 2025/26 academic year (i.e. during the period from August 2025 to July 2026) may submit their applications for the scholarship online via the application system on the HKSES website on or before December 31, 2024, by 6pm. Late applications will not be accepted.
                         
     Shortlisted applicants will be invited by the EDB to attend interviews for the scholarship from April 2025 onwards after receiving unconditional offers from their chosen programmes. They will be notified of the results in due course after the interviews.

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 announced today (October 14) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach, Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach in Islands District; and Silverstrand Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) released today (October 14) the web version of the Profile of Kindergartens and Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres 2024/25 School Year (www.chsc.hk/kindergarten) to provide basic information on all kindergartens and kindergarten-cum-child care centres (collectively referred to as kindergartens), enhance the transparency of schools and help parents make informed school choices for their children. Mobile applications for iOS and Android versions of the Profile are also available for download.
 
     A spokesman for the EDB said, "The Profile covers information on about 990 kindergartens in Hong Kong, including the list of kindergartens joining the Kindergarten Education Scheme (Scheme) in the 2024/25 school year and the approved school fees of kindergartens for the 2024/25 school year. For kindergartens joining the Scheme, the Profile will show their approved school fees after the deduction of government subsidies. Parents can also refer to the Fees Certificate of respective kindergartens for details of the approved fees, including school fees and meal charges, if applicable.
 
     "Other information in the Profile includes the number and overall professional qualifications of the principal and teaching staff, enrolment, teacher-to-pupil ratios, curriculum details, reference prices of major education items being sold, application fees and registration fees, and information on application for admission. All kindergartens joining the Scheme are required to disclose information on the proportion of major expenses in overall expenditure. The Profile also includes columns on 'Support to non-Chinese speaking students' and 'Support to students with special needs' for parents' easy reference."
 
     The spokesman added, "All kindergartens joining the Scheme are required to undergo the Quality Review (QR) for quality assurance. For those kindergartens that have completed the QR process, information on whether they have met the prescribed standards is indicated in the Profile, and the latest QR Report can be accessed through the link provided."
 
     The Profile is available in English to help parents of non-Chinese speaking children access information on kindergartens more easily and comprehensively.