The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, today (August 30) extended his congratulations to Hong Kong swimming athlete Chan Yui-Lam on winning the silver medal in the Women's 100m Butterfly S14 at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. This is the first medal won by the Hong Kong, China Delegation in this Paralympic Games.
 
     Mr Yeung said, "Chan Yui-Lam performed outstandingly and displayed her unparalleled strength. I believe Hong Kong citizens shared the joy as well. I wish her success in the coming competitions."

     Hong Kong swimming athlete Chan Yui-lam today (August 29, Paris Time) won the silver medal in the Women's 100m Butterfly S14 at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. It is the first medal of Hong Kong, China at these Paralympic Games. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, expressed his heartfelt congratulations to Chan Yui-lam and her coaches.
      
     "Chan Yui-lam spared no effort and showed her great perseverance in the competition. Her silver medal is well-deserved, showcasing the extraordinary capabilities of Hong Kong athletes with disabilities. All Hong Kong people and I are thrilled and proud of her.
          
     "I wish the Hong Kong, China Delegation will continue to achieve remarkable results in other events and unleash their potential to win honour for Hong Kong," Mr Lee said.
        
     Chan Yui-lam has achieved outstanding performance in recent years. She won gold medals in Women's 100m Butterfly S14 and Women's 100m Backstroke S14 at the 4th Asian Para Games Hangzhou.

     In view of the recurring of coral bleaching in Hong Kong recently, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) met with local experts today (August 29) to discuss the ways to cope with the issue, and exchange views on the way forward on coral research and conservation work. 

     A spokesman for the AFCD said, "Under the influence of different environmental factors, large-scale coral bleaching has occurred in 2022 and again this year. The Government needs to work with experts to formulate suitable coping strategies."

     A number of local coral and marine science experts attended the meeting today to share their views on conserving corals in Hong Kong with the AFCD. In the meeting, the AFCD and the participants shared the latest information on coral bleaching in Hong Kong this year, reviewed the current research and conservation work on corals, and explored future directions of the relevant research and conservation work. Some participants noted that coral bleaching is a global phenomenon and occurs not only in Hong Kong. The participants proposed preliminary ideas on future directions of research in the end. The Government will continue to explore different research directions and formulate response plans with the experts after the meeting.

     The spokesman noted that coral communities are highly productive habitats that support a high diversity of marine life. The Government is very concerned about the long-term survival of coral communities. The suggestions of the experts will help the Government to formulate effective and timely measures and a sound strategy for resource allocation.

     The AFCD has been promoting a series of measures and programmes for the conservation of corals in Hong Kong, including effective management of marine parks and a marine reserve, education and publicity activities to enhance public awareness of the importance of coral communities, the annual Hong Kong Reef Check to monitor the status of local coral communities, and the study and implementation of mitigation measures to restore degraded coral communities.

     â€‹The District Court today (August 29) delivered verdict on a case of "conspiracy to publish and/or reproduce seditious publication", finding all three defendants guilty of the charge.

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government spokesman said, "The conviction of all three defendants (i.e. the two editors-in-chief of Stand News, Chung Pui-kuen and Lam Shiu-tung, and the company which operated Stand News, Best Pencil (Hong Kong) Limited) signifies justice being firmly upheld. Any individual or organisation that incites hatred and engages in acts and activities endangering national security can never escape sanctions of the law, and such malicious acts will surely be duly punished." 

     In its reasons for verdict, the court pointed out clearly that the ideology of Stand News was localism which excluded China, and it even became a tool to smear and vilify the Central Authorities and the HKSAR Government during the "anti-extradition amendment bill incidents". The court found that the relevant articles, without any objective basis, attacked the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Crimes Ordinance and relevant law enforcement and prosecutorial process; spread hatred and anti-government sentiment with disinformation; attacked the law enforcement by the Police and glorified the behaviour of rioters. The court further held that, while holding chief editorial position of Stand News, Chung Pui-kuen and Lam Shiu-tung had knowledge and approved of the seditious intention of the articles, and offered Stand News as the publishing platform with the intention to incite hatred against the Central Authorities or the HKSAR Government, and hatred against the administration of justice.

     The court specifically highlighted in its reasons for verdict that, according to Article 19(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, when the media and relevant personnel publish opinions, information and articles, they must observe and discharge "special duties and responsibilities", including protection of national security or public order, or of public health or morals. The court further cited relevant decisions on press freedom under the European Convention on Human Rights which pointed out that journalists are entitled to the protection of the freedoms of expression and of the press on the premises that they must act in good faith and on accurate factual basis and provide reliable and precise information.

     The spokesman pointed out that, "The Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights guarantee fundamental rights such as the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, procession and demonstration. Clear lines have been drawn between unlawful seditious expressions and lawful constructive criticisms under the Crimes Ordinance.  The relevant provisions are also unambiguous. As demonstrated by the reasons for verdict of the court, Stand News completely disregarded objective facts and contravened the special duties and responsibilities emphasised by international human rights conventions which journalists must observe. As such, the claims by individual media organisations which disregard facts, as well as anti-China and destabilising individuals, foreign politicians and organisations with vicious motives, which accused the verdict of 'suppressing' freedom of the press are utterly unfounded. To distort words and acts that incite hatred as 'journalistic work' as such individuals and organisations did is indeed the gravest insult against the professional journalists of Hong Kong."

     The spokesman emphasised that, "Members of the public (including journalists) in Hong Kong are, as always, free to make comments or criticisms that are based on facts, and to enjoy and exercise freedoms of the press and of speech in accordance with the law, without fear of unwittingly violating the law.

     "It is the constitutional duty of the HKSAR to safeguard national security. In this regard, the HKSAR Government will ensure that laws are observed and continue to enforce the law resolutely, decisively and rigorously with a view to effectively preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment for acts and activities endangering national security with all-out efforts."

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 29) that the Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Swimming Pool in Yuen Long District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 6.30am tomorrow.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.