Tag Archives: China

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident happened in Tin Shui Wai tonight (August 10) in which a woman died.             At 7.57pm, a bus driven by a 45-yea… read more

     â€‹The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) hosted a networking reception in Edinburgh, the United Kingdom (UK), on August 9 (London time) evening, for about 180 guests in celebrating the participation of Hong Kong artists in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The audience included members of the Scottish Parliament, local council members and leading figures in the local academic, arts and cultural sector.

     Speaking at the reception, the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, mentioned that the London ETO is pleased to support four troupes and two street performance artists to join the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024. He emphasised Hong Kong’s commitment to developing into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, as supported by the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

     “In elevating Hong Kong into a world-class hub for performing arts, we will host the very first Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX) from October 14 to 18. As a flagship platform for performing arts, HKPAX is set to facilitate art and cultural exchange between China including Hong Kong, and the rest of the world; expand trading market of performing arts programmes; and explore new opportunities for arts practitioners from the region and beyond,” he added. 

     The reception featured an excerpt of the performances of One Table Two Chairs Charitable Foundation, TS Crew, Lai Yee, and Lyson Sze. 

     The Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024 runs from August 2 to 26 in Edinburgh, UK. “Cantonese Opera x Children’s Interactive Theatre: Dic Dic Chang Chang Playground” by One Table Two Chairs Charitable Foundation plays at theSpace@Surgeons’ Hall till August 10. “Must I Cry” by Theatre du Pif plays at Paradise in Augustines till August 25. “No Dragon No Lion” by TS Crew plays at C Arts, Lauriston Halls till August 25. “It’s Not My Body Chapter 3.5 / This Is” by Wong Tan-ki and Dick Wong plays at Assembly @ Dance Base till August 11. Flow artist Lai Yee and freestyle football player Lyson Sze’s performances are staged throughout the streets of Edinburgh. 

              

     â€‹The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, today (August 10) officiated at the launching ceremony of “Customs YES Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macao Exchange Tour for Hundred Youths” at the Hong Kong Customs College. Other officiating guests included the Director-general of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Vong Man-chong; Inspector at Level 2 of the Guangdong Sub-Administration of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Yuan Shengqiang; the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, and directorates of Hong Kong Customs.

     In her welcoming speech at the launching ceremony, Ms Ho said that this exchange tour, in celebration of 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, aims at broadening the horizons, and nurturing the team spirit and innovative thinking of the youth from the three places through visits to Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Macao, laying a solid foundation for their integration into the overall development of the country. She looks forward to the continuous collaboration among Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Macao in organising cross-regional youth exchange activities, strengthening the cohesion of youth from the three regions and achieving mutually beneficial co-operation. Ms Ho also encouraged the participants to contribute to the prosperity of the country.

     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Vong stated that this exchange tour is not a simple study tour, but a profound learning experience. Through on-site inspections and interactive exchanges, the participants can gain valuable knowledge, deepen their understanding of the Greater Bay Area, and develop deeper affection for the country. He expressed his hope that the tour members can harvest both knowledge and friendship during this activity.

     In his speech, Mr Yuan mentioned that this event can serve as a stage to showcase the new image of youths from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao in the new era, allowing more people to understand their thoughts and garner greater support from all sectors of the society for youth development, and providing them with deeper, broader, and more diverse opportunities. He hoped that the participants could cultivate a sense of patriotism and spirit of dedication to the country and understand the historic mission bestowed by the new era.

     The flag-raising ceremony in the launching ceremony was conducted by the Foot Drill and Flag Party of the Customs Youth Leader Corps, the first youth group under the Security Bureau to perform Chinese-style rifle foot drill. This performance marks the team’s first public flag-raising demonstration, showcasing a high level of discipline and team spirit, and respect for the country, of the members.

     One hundred and twenty youths from Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Macao will undergo a four-day exchange programme in the three places from today to August 13. Upon their arrival at the Hong Kong Customs College this morning, the participants had the chance to experience a variety of customs duties, including passengers and cargo clearance, mock investigation and air gun shooting, which allow them to learn about the diversity and challenges of Customs’ work and cultivate self-discipline and obedience.

     The participants tomorrow (August 11) will visit the giant pandas at Ocean Park Hong Kong to understand the development of wildlife conservation in Hong Kong. In the following two days, the tour members will visit the customs departments in Macao and Guangzhou to gain insights into the customs work in different aspects, as well as experience the vitality and innovation development of the Greater Bay Area. The exchange tour enabled the youth from the three sides to establish cross-regional friendships, facilitate cultural integration and strengthen the understanding of the country.

              

     Organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) together with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), the second City I&T Grand Challenge concluded its Grand Pitch at Hong Kong Science Park today (August 10). More than 500 guests from all walks of life, as well as an online audience, witnessed the emergence of the next generation of innovators and celebrated the conclusion of the competition.

     To promote an innovation and technology (I&T) culture and enhance the application of I&T in the community, the second City I&T Grand Challenge was launched under the theme of “Hong Kong’s Got I&T” on March 16 this year. It invited applications from different sectors of the community to develop I&T solutions focusing on two subjects, namely “I&T for Nature (Yama)” (improving the operation and management of country parks and campsites, and enhancing hikers’ experiences in nature) and “I&T for Community (Community Wellness)” (enhancing support for carers) between April 5 and May 16. The competition was divided into four categories, which were the Primary School Group, the Secondary School Group, the University/Tertiary Institute Group and the Open Group. In all, 1 172 submissions were received from nearly 2 500 local and non-local contestants on an individual or team basis.

     After an initial screening and a semi pitch held in July, 27 solutions were shortlisted to enter the Grand Pitch today. Winners from four categories were selected by a judging panel consisting of eight representatives from the Government, I&T and academic sectors, and subject matter experts. Prototypes of I&T solutions entering the Grand Pitch were also displayed on-site to foster exchanges and mutual learning among participants and guests on the technologies applied.

     Addressing the award presentation ceremony, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, “This event is not just a competition, but also a good opportunity to promote science education for all. Hong Kong is moving at full steam to develop into an international I&T centre with talents being the key to the development and source of inspiration. ‘City I&T Grand Challenge’ is thus a platform for identifying and training talents.” He also affirmed the participants’ passion for I&T and their care for the community, and hoped that they would continue to bring new ideas for the I&T development in Hong Kong with their creativity. 

     The Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Ivan Lee, said that the City I&T Grand Challenge aimed at promoting the application of I&T to tackle social problems. An enthusiastic response was received from all walks of life with the number of participants almost doubling that of the first Grand Challenge. Mr Lee praised the 27 teams entering the Grand Pitch after stages of review and competition as the best of the best. 

     The Chairman of the HKSTPC, Dr Sunny Chai, said that the competition enhanced the I&T atmosphere in Hong Kong by inviting society’s participation. This year’s competition received over 1 000 submissions, which was a testament to the theme of “Hong Kong’s Got I&T.” Dr Chai said he looked forward to seeing these high-potential innovative solutions be implemented to benefit the public in the future.

     To drive applications of I&T solutions for the benefit of the general public, winners of the University/Tertiary Institute and Open Groups will also be given financial support for research and development, as well as training to refine their solutions for trials at designated venues such as government departments or public organisations. At the sharing session after the award presentation ceremony, the winners of this cohort agreed that the competition provided them with a platform and resources to realise their ideas and apply their I&T solutions to hopefully benefit the public.

     Please visit the dedicated website (citytechgc.hk) to learn more about the competition. The list of winners of the second City I&T Grand Challenge can be retrieved at website (citytechgc.hk/en/winners).

      

     The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) today (August 10) hosted the Youth Development Summit which marks the opening and highlights of the 2024 Youth Festival. Themed “Set Sail for New Horizons”, the inaugural Summit has gathered officials responsible for youth policies from different regions, along with business leaders, talent in technological innovation, creative experts, young entrepreneurs and representatives of youth organisations as guest speakers. It also attracted over 2400 young people to register to participate and about 500 of them came from the Mainland and other overseas locations such as Singapore, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand, which enabled them to exchange views and engage in mutual learning on issues of concern to young people. 

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, officiated at the Summit. In his opening remarks, he said, “Young people are the future pillars of our society. Our vision is to foster a new generation of youth equipped with a global perspective, aspiring and positive mindset, and affection for our country and city. We strive to provide our youth with a nurturing environment and hope for the future.”

     Mr Lee pointed out that the Government attaches great importance to youth development. The Government has released the first Youth Development Blueprint for Hong Kong, highlighting its vision and concrete steps, for youth development. He said the development potential of both Hong Kong and young people who join the city is unlimited. He encouraged young people to live the Hong Kong spirit of never giving up and striving for excellence.

     At the session on “Empowering the Next Generation” held this morning, key officials responsible for youth policies and devoted to youth development from different regions were invited to exchange views on the critical roles of youth in social and economic developments and shed light on the policies and initiatives taken by governments in nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and encouraging social engagement. The keynote speakers were the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the President of All-China Youth Federation, Mr Xu Xiao; the Deputy Minister for Society Development at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Ahmed Al-Majed; the Deputy Minister of Education and Sports and the Vice President of Lao National Olympic Committee, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mr Kingmano Phommahaxay; and the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Malaysia, Mr Adam Adli Abd Halimand.
 
     Mr Chan gave a keynote speech at the Summit and shared the direction and major progress of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and different sectors of the society in promoting youth development. Mr Chan pointed out that the Youth Development Blueprint published in 2022 contains more than 160 measures, in addition to nearly 60 new youth-related measures introduced last year. It aims to provide all round support for young people and respond to their changing needs in a timely manner. The measures are grouped under four directions, namely “exploration”, encouraging young people to explore the future; “hope”, meeting their needs in various aspects such as internship, employment and entrepreneurship; “empowerment”, supporting young people to build resilience and self-reliance; and “contribution”, encouraging young people to participate in community-building. 

     Mr Chan said he believes that all the participants of the Summit share the commitment to driving the healthy and holistic development of youth and to building a future where all young people can unleash their full potential. He expressed his hopes that young home-grown talent and those from around the world will seize the development, collaboration and innovation opportunities in Hong Kong and create a brighter future together. 

     Three thematic sessions were held in the afternoon. The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, gave opening remarks at the thematic sessions. She pointed out that Hong Kong is a place filled with opportunities where individuals with diverse abilities and aspirations can unleash their strengths and pursue their dreams. 

     Miss Mak said, “Today’s event is the first ever large-scale Summit dedicated to youth development organised by our Government to serve as a new platform for our young people to exchange knowledge, foster cross-cultural understanding, and inspire new ideas with peers from different regions and backgrounds.” Miss Mak encouraged young people to take this opportunity to engage not only with the esteemed speakers but also peers from different regions and share their thoughts.

     The first session themed “Promoting Technological Innovation to Accelerate the Development of New Quality Productive Forces” was chaired by Legislative Council Member, Mr Duncan Chiu. The panelists, including the Founder and Chairman of Hozon New Energy Automobile Co, Ltd, Mr Fang Yunzhou; the Deputy Chief Executive of Bank of Communications (Hong Kong) Ltd, Mr Ip Tsz-kin; the Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Group, Mr Ronald Lam; and the General Manager of AstraZeneca Hong Kong and Macau, Ms Shan Wu, explored the power of innovation in driving economic growth and the important role played by youth.

     The next session was hosted by the Chairman of Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation, Mr Daryl Ng, and was titled “Inspiring Youth Creativity for a Sustainable Future”. Leaders from different sectors, including the Chief Executive Officer of New World Development Company Ltd, Dr Adrian Cheng; the Principal Partner of MAD Architects, Mr Yosuke Hayano; the artist Ren Zhe; and the Founder of Foundation for Art and Culture, Mr Arthur de Villepin, explored the nexus of creativity, culture, and sustainability and discussed how to empower young people to drive innovative development.

     In addition, the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, acted as the moderator of the session “Nurturing Positive Thinking Amongst Young People for a Brighter Tomorrow” and discussed with the Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Raymond Tam; Legislative Council Member and the Vice Chairman of All-China Youth Federation, Mr Kenneth Fok; the Hong Kong fencer Vivian Kong; and the pianist Zhang Shengliang (Niu Niu). They shared their views on how to inspire and empower youth through the transformative power of positive thinking and delved into the importance of fostering a positive mindset among young people. 

     To enhance the Mainland and overseas participants’ understanding of Hong Kong’s technological innovation, arts and culture, and heritage conservation, and to provide them with an opportunity to exchange and interact with the local youth, the HYAB is holding a three-day thematic visit programme with exchange activities from yesterday (August 9). The YDC Youth Ambassadors and the Youth Link Committee members acted as the ambassadors of the programme to explore Hong Kong together with over 300 Summit participants. This will foster the interaction and co-operation among young people from different regions, to showcase and promote the city, and to tell the world good stories of Hong Kong. 

     Prior to the opening of the Summit, Mr Chan hosted a welcome dinner yesterday evening for officials, guests and speakers from the Mainland and overseas visiting Hong Kong for the Summit. 

     For the latest updates of the events under the Festival and the recording of the Summit programme, please visit the thematic webpage, www.youthfest.hk. read more