The Civil Aid Service (CAS) today (September 8) held the Cadet Corps Challenge Day 2024 at the CAS Headquarters. The parade and award presentation ceremony was officiated by the Chief Pilot (Operations) of the Government Flying Service, Mr Eddie Liu.
      
     The Challenge Day of this year was held in the form of Chinese-style footdrill for competition, with an aim to strengthen a sense of belonging towards the country and a sense of national identity among youngsters. The footdrill competition was participated in by 10 teams comprising over 200 cadets. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Liu said that by observing the cadets in their proper uniforms, standing neatly and vigorously on the parade ground, it is clear that all cadets have undergone a long period of rigorous training over the past few months. Mr Liu also expressed heartfelt gratitude to all CAS members and cadets for their valuable time and continuous contribution to society.

     Apart from the Challenge Day, the CAS Cadet Corps also organised a number of mainland exchange programmes this summer, including the Ningxia Exchange Programme 2024, the Beijing and Nanjing Space Exploration Study Tour, the 10,000 Miles Friendship Trek 2024 and the Zhongshan Foshan Exchange Programme 2024. Through visits to different Mainland cities, youngsters are led to increase their sense of national identity and national pride, while fostering an appreciation for Chinese culture and an awareness of the importance of safeguarding national security.
      
     Looking ahead, the CAS will continue its efforts in encouraging cadets to take part in discipline training and social services as well as assisting the promotion of national security education with a view to nurturing youngsters to become future leaders and responsible citizens.

          

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, yesterday (September 7, Paris time) and the day before (September 6, Paris time) continued to watch in Paris various competitions of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games participated by the Hong Kong, China Delegation, including Wheelchair Fencing Epee and Swimming events.

     The Hong Kong, China Delegation won eight medals, namely three golds, four silvers and one bronze, at this Paralympic Games. Mr Yeung said, "After clinching two golds and two bronzes at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Hong Kong athletes continued to ride high in the Paralymics. Not only is it encouraging, the people of Hong Kong and I are also thankful to the athletes for writing the book on Hong Kong's Paralympics excellence."

     "All athletes gave their best in the competitions, displaying enormous courage and perseverance. Each of them has a touching and inspiring story behind, so their hard work and indomitable spirit deserve our applause regardless of the result. I hope that they keep up the passion and fight for their dreams! We are proud of them!" Mr Yeung added.

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government supports persons with disabilities (PWDs) to participate in sports and show their talent. The HKSAR Government will continue to provide resources in supporting the development of sports for PWDs.

     Mr Yeung concluded the Paris visit today (September 8, Paris time) and departed for Hong Kong.

     The Department of Health (DH) today (September 8) held the "Love Your Teeth, Check-ups Annually" Carnival to promote oral health and encourage the public to carry out annual dental check-ups.

     National Love Teeth Day is held on September 20 annually. To mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China this year, the DH's Oral Health Promotion Division (OHPD) organised a carnival with the theme of "Love Your Teeth, Check-ups Annually" to promote oral and dental health. By inviting the public to participate in various interactive sessions, including stage performances, booth games, and tooth brushing demonstrations, the carnival aims to create a joyful atmosphere for the public to learn more about dental care, oral health, and the importance of prevention and yearly check-ups.

     Officiating at the kick-off ceremony, the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, said "The World Health Organization recommended preservation of natural tooth as the most important oral health indicator and that society should aim to raise the overall level of oral health by preserving teeth. Having regular dental check-ups is crucial.

     "The Government's current dental care policy aims to raise public awareness of oral hygiene and health through publicity and education, and to encourage the public to develop good oral hygiene habits. Generally speaking, the need for dental treatment or surgery due to tooth decay and gum diseases can be greatly reduced if good oral hygiene habits are maintained.

     "Dental diseases require 'focus on prevention, early identification, and timely intervention'. The most common dental diseases, such as tooth decay and periodontal disease, show no symptoms in the early stages. If detected early, treatment will be simpler, more effective, and relatively less costly."

     The Consultant in-charge, Dental Services of the DH, Dr Kitty Hse, also emphasised that, regardless of age, good oral hygiene habits should be cultivated. Not only should annual dental check-ups be carried out, but ongoing guidance from dentists and dental professionals, as well as learning correct brushing and oral care techniques, are also necessary. The DH's School Dental Care Service has been providing annual dental check-up services to primary students for over 40 years. In the past 20 years, the dental caries rate among 12-year-old children in Hong Kong has been among the lowest globally. 

     The DH's School Dental Care Service (SDCS) has laid a solid foundation for the oral health of primary school students in Hong Kong. As an interface with the SDCS for primary school students, the DH will launch the Primary Dental Co-care Pilot Scheme for Adolescents (PDCC) in the first quarter of 2025. By providing partial subsidies for private dental check-ups services for adolescents aged between 13 and 17, as well as to foster the establishment of long-term partnership between adolescents and the dentists of non-governmental organisations or private sector, aims at promoting the life-long habit of regular dental check-ups for prevention of dental diseases. Under the co-payment model, eligible adolescents will receive dental check-ups services in the private healthcare sector by shouldering certain co-payment amount with government subsidies. Non-governmental organisations and private dentists can determine the co-payment fee. At present, the Government is actively taking forward the relevant preparatory work and formulating the details of the scheme, particulars of which will be announced in due course.

     For more information about oral health, please visit the OHPD's Toothclub webpage (www.toothclub.gov.hk), the Facebook fan page of "愛牙 Love Teeth HK" (www.facebook.com/LoveTeethHK/) and YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/channel/UChJUkaM37cgbNGMi23v0ivQ).

      

     As the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games draws to a close today (September 8, Paris time), the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, expressed his congratulations to the Hong Kong, China Delegation on its outstanding achievements, praising the athletes for giving their utmost in the competitions, and showcasing to the world the indomitable Hong Kong spirit and the extraordinary capabilities of Hong Kong athletes with disabilities.

     Mr Lee said, "The Hong Kong, China Delegation captured three gold medals, four silver medals and one bronze medal in this year's Paralympic Games, achieving the best results since the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. With unparalleled resilience and determination, every athlete overcame numerous obstacles and persevered through rigorous training to eventually step onto the Paralympic stage and shine brilliantly. Regardless of the results, each of them is a warrior of life, and a hero and role model in the hearts of the people of Hong Kong, making us deeply proud. 

     "The members of the Hong Kong, China Delegation at this year's Paralympic Games included not only veteran athletes, but also rising stars participating in the Games for the first time. They demonstrated teamwork and supported each other on the field, showcasing exceptional skills and professionalism together, and achieving remarkable results time and again, a truly admirable feat. I express my gratitude to the coaches, medical personnel and support teams for their dedication and meticulous nurturing of the athletes. I also acknowledge the contributions of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee (HKPC) and various sports associations in promoting the development of the local Paralympic Movement over the years."

     Mr Lee said that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region fully supports the development of sports for persons with disabilities, noting that the estimated expenditure for the purpose amounts to over $130 million in the current financial year, representing a growth of over 40 per cent compared to that of five years ago. In June last year, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, in collaboration with the HKPC, launched a pilot programme on career and education for athletes with disabilities to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary for their post-athletic transformation and career development. More than 140 athletes with disabilities have participated in the programme so far.

     The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY), Ms Maisie Ho, visited Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, from September 5 to 8 (Atlanta time) to promote Hong Kong's business opportunities and talent attraction measures.
 
     During a luncheon on September 6 with representatives of European American chambers of commerce in Atlanta, Ms Ho highlighted Hong Kong's unique advantages and the abundant opportunities available for companies worldwide.
 
     "Hong Kong is currently home to a total of nearly 15 000 non-Hong Kong companies, an all-time high figure. This signifies the unwavering importance of Hong Kong as an international business hub," she said.
 
     "Hong Kong uniquely embodies the 'one country, two systems' principle, making it the only city that combines advantages from both China and the international community. As of 2023, 60 per cent of Mainland China's accumulated foreign investment had originated from or passed through Hong Kong. This signifies how Hong Kong continue to position itself as a crucial 'super connector' between Mainland China and the rest of the world," she added.
 
     On the same day, Ms Ho cohosted with the Hong Kong Association of Atlanta two career-sharing sessions at Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology. She provided an overview of various talent admission schemes in Hong Kong and encouraged attendees to explore the city's dynamic career opportunities. Both universities are on the list of eligible universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme.
 
     "Through various talent admission schemes, we have since 2022 received over 320 000 applications from around the world. Nearly 200 000 of them have been approved, and over 130 000 talents have already settled in Hong Kong," Ms Ho remarked.
 
     On September 7, Ms Ho officiated at the Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Lanier Olympic Park, kicking off the festivities for this largest Hong Kong cultural event in Georgia, which the HKETONY introduced to the region in 1995.
 
     This year's festival was joined by 75 teams, comprising paddlers from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Among them was the HKETONY Dragon Riders team. The HKETONY also set up a festival booth to promote Hong Kong to spectators.