The Housing Bureau (HB) and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) today (September 2) announced the launch of a resident-oriented "Well-being design" guide, which will serve as a reference for the future design of new public housing estates and the improvement works of existing estates.
 
     The guide consists of eight booklets, covering eight well-being concepts, namely "Health & Vitality", "Green Living and Sustainability", "Age-Friendliness", "Intergenerational & Inclusive Living", "Family & Community Connection", "Urban Integration", "Upward Mobility" and "Perception & Image" as well as a space guideline. The guide provides detailed interpretation of the eight well-being concepts as well as over 50 well-being strategies and more than 170 design suggestions derived from them. It enables the Housing Department (HD) staff across various professional streams to adapt, apply and continue optimising these elements when designing public housing in future.
 
     The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, introduced the concept brief of the guide at a media briefing, and also shared on the formulating process and findings of the guide. She said that the "Well-being design" guide integrated the precious and successful building and management experience of the HA over the past 50 years. Views and creative ideas from various sectors were also collected through collaborating with a cross-professional consultant team, including experts in architecture, planning, landscaping, management, nursing, and social services, many of whom were young people. The team also conducted research in 26 housing estates, including 25 public housing estates and a large transitional housing project, and collected first-hand opinions from over 3 000 residents through group activities, workshops, surveys and studies for reference. The brief of the guide is available at housingwellbeing.hk/design-guide/ (Chinese only; English version to be available later).
 
     Multiple models were displayed at the briefing to demonstrate the practical application of the guide. For instance, in the model "Wellness Corner", a leaning bench is provided in the elevator for residents to rest on; hand rails and hanging hooks are added next to mailboxes, so that residents can free their hands while retrieving their mail; seats and handrails of various heights are provided in the lobby to embody "Age-Friendliness" and "Family & Community Connection". The guide proposed to fully utilise the space in public housing estates. In the model "Communal Fitness Playscape", jogging track, fitness equipment, playground, lawn and benches that can be flexibly arranged to suit residents' needs are added to build a green living space that promotes "Health & Vitality", "Intergenerational & Inclusive Living" and "Family & Community Connection". In the "Universal Service Bay" model, the guide enhances the auxiliary facilities around parking spaces for mobile services (such as mobile medical units and mobile libraries), including social seating, charging points and fitness and recreational facilities, for residents to use while waiting.
 
     In her conclusion, Ms Ho said that the Chief Executive advocated for the formulation of a "Well-being design" guide in the 2022 Policy Address. She chaired the action group to formulate the guide together with the HD. This serves as a guideline for humble yet thoughtful and heartwarming designs. The HD also dedicated time and regular resources to carry out facade beautification and minor improvement projects at 10 housing estates, as well as completing landscaping improvement works for 20 housing estates in 2023/24. Ms Ho envisions that public housing estates will be the starting point for society to adopt well-being designs, and well-being concepts will be gradually promoted to other projects and future community designs to build more happy communities.
 
     To promote the well-being concepts of the guide and strengthen cohesion in the community, the HB and the HA will hold a "WELL•BEING Estate Festival" from September 7 to 15. Activities include cycling tours, community art jamming and symposiums. Some of the activities are co-organised by young people and non-government organisations. Participants from three Mainland cities and five countries have registered for the symposiums and other activities so far. The full set of the "Well-being design" guide will also be announced in the symposium to be held on September 12.
 
     Some of the highlight activities of the "WELL•BEING Estate Festival" are as follows. For details of the events, please visit housingwellbeing.hk/en/estate-festival/. (Note)
 

 
Note: Limited places for some activities and registration will be required. Symposiums for invited parties to attend only.

              

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department is inviting organisations that wish to sponsor the 2025 Lunar New Year Fireworks Display to submit applications on or before September 20 (Friday).
      
     The fireworks display will be held on January 30 (Thursday) next year.
      
     Applications should be submitted to the Secretariat of the Fireworks Vetting Committee (Address: Community Programmes Office, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, 8/F, Queen Elizabeth Stadium, 18 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong).
      
     Further enquiries can be made at 2591 1207.

     A woman who went missing in Yau Ma Tei has been located.

     Cheng Liqiong, aged 44, went missing after she left a hospital on Gascoigne Road in the small hours on August 31. Her family then made a report to Police.

     The woman was located in a hospital on Hip Wo Street, Sau Mau Ping, today (September 2) morning. No suspicious circumstances were detected.

     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, this morning (September 2) visited Tsung Tsin College (TTC) and Caritas Wu Cheng-chung College to join their school opening activities.
 
     Dr Choi first visited Tsung Tsin College. Addressing the school opening ceremony, she commended the school for its continuous efforts in promoting mental health on campus and its enthusiastic participation in various programmes launched by the Education Bureau (EDB) to enhance students' self-discipline, self-improvement, self-confidence and resilience.
 
     She said that, by presenting the 4Rs Roly-poly Doll to the school and students as a gift for the new school year, the EDB encouraged everyone to practise 4Rs, i.e. rest, relaxation, relationship and resilience, to cultivate an unyielding spirit.
 
     She encouraged students to maintain adequate sleep and cultivate healthy habits; take time to relax and take breaks from their busy schedules to do things they enjoy; develop good interpersonal relationships; and keep a positive attitude and enhance their resilience. She said that a good start is a crucial step toward success, encouraging students to set new goals and embark on a new learning journey.
 
     Following the school opening ceremony, Dr Choi toured the TTC Garden of Eden of the school, where students introduced to her the farming environment and facilities of the Garden, and how to integrate the activities into different subjects and extend them to serve the community. She also produced a hand-made 4Rs Roly-poly Doll 3D Card together with the students and teachers at the Student Activity Centre, and listened to their sharing about ways to practise 4Rs.
 
     Dr Choi then attended the opening ceremony praying assembly of Caritas Wu Cheng-chung College. Speaking at the event, she said that, in face of structural changes in the school-age population, the EDB proactively works together with school-sponsoring bodies and schools to study a long-term plan based on actual circumstances with an aim of "soft landing" to ensure a healthy and sustainable education ecosystem and optimal use of public resources. 
 
     She extended special thanks to Caritas Hong Kong for responding positively to the EDB's call by decisively merging its Caritas Wu Cheng-chung Secondary School, an aided school, with Caritas Charles Vath College, a Direct Subsidy Scheme school, to form Caritas Wu Cheng-chung College. She said that the merger of two schools in different operation modes was an innovative attempt. Despite a number of difficulties during the merging process, the merger was completed smoothly with concerted efforts from all parties to overcome various challenges, enabling better integration of resources to provide a more appropriate learning environment and enriched learning experiences for students, catering to different learning and development needs.
 
     Later, she toured the Integrated Science Lab, the Swift Coding Lab, the IOT Lab and the Black Box Theatre of the school, and listened to students' sharing of their learning experiences in science, applied technology and performing arts.
 
     Dr Choi expressed her gratitude to the teaching teams of the two schools for their selfless dedication to students. She also encouraged students to study hard and strengthen themselves in the new school year to build a good foundation for further studies or career development in the future.
 

                

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) released a green turtle in the southern waters of Hong Kong today (September 2).
 
     The green turtle was rescued by AFCD officers in October 2022 in the waters near Chi Ma Wan Peninsula of Lantau Island. Following an initial check-up by the AFCD, the turtle was taken to Ocean Park Hong Kong (OPHK). It was assessed by veterinarians of OPHK and placed under their continuous monitoring and veterinary care.
 
     An AFCD spokesman said, "The green turtle weighs around 39 kilograms, and its carapace length measures about 66 centimetres. It was assessed by the veterinarians of OPHK as being in good condition and ready to return to the sea. The Department is thankful to the veterinarians and staff of OPHK for taking care of it."
 
      Before the green turtle was released to the sea, the AFCD tagged it with a microchip and an Inconel tag for future identification. A satellite transmitter was also attached to the carapace of the turtle. By tracking the movement and feeding grounds of the green turtle in the sea, the AFCD can collect data for formulating appropriate conservation measures and will share its findings with conservation authorities of other regions for better conservation of green turtles through concerted efforts.
 
     Green turtle is a globally endangered species and the only sea turtle species known to nest locally. In Hong Kong, all wild turtles (including sea turtles) are protected by the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170). No person shall hunt or wilfully disturb, possess, sell or export sea turtles. Otherwise, offenders will be liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year. Upon conviction, the specimens will also be forfeited.
 
     In addition, all sea turtle species are listed in Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong. The import, introduction from the sea, export, re-export or possession of specimens of sea turtles not in accordance with the Ordinance is an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years, and the specimens will also be forfeited.
 
     Members of the public are urged to report any sightings of sea turtles or suspected irregularities involving sea turtles to the AFCD on 1823.