Tag Archives: China

     The Correctional Services Department (CSD) held the first graduation ceremony of the Ethics College at Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution today (August 8) to present graduation certificates to persons in custody (PICs) who have completed the Diploma of Applied Education programme.
      
     All of the first batch of 75 PIC students of the Ethics College, including 60 male PICs from Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution and 15 female PICs from Lo Wu Correctional Institution, have successfully completed the programme.
      
     Addressing the graduation ceremony, the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, extended his heartfelt congratulations to the graduates. He said that the successful graduation of PIC students not only shows the achievement of their hard work, but is also a demonstration of their perseverance in self-improvement and determination to transform themselves, and of their resolute belief in preparing for a new life. He encouraged the graduates to maintain a proactive and positive attitude, whether they continue their studies or find employment in the future, so as to meet challenges ahead, embark on a new chapter in life and make contributions to society.
      
     Mr Tang thanked various sectors of society for their support to the Ethics College, including the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for supporting the College’s work; the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education for providing the programme and arranging teachers to teach at the College; and various organisations and volunteers for offering assistance to the PIC students.
      
     Mr Tang also praised CSD staff for their efforts not only to organise study and career planning talks and extra-curricular activities covering physical education and arts, Chinese history and culture, and national education but also for setting up a flag-raising team at the College to enhance students’ national identity and foster their whole-person development.
      
     He said that the CSD will continue to provide whole-person education and courses for the second batch of 75 PIC students, and will also explore the introduction of courses for further studies to increase the upward mobility opportunities of PICs after their reintegration to society.
      
     Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Ms Anita Fung said in the ceremony that she was pleased to see that the PIC students not only could acquire academic knowledge and practical skills, but also develop a good character and positive values during the learning process to prepare themselves for reintegrating into society. She hoped that the PIC students will maintain their enthusiasm for learning, strive for self-enhancement and make contributions to the country and Hong Kong in their future work and life, in line with the Jockey Club’s commitment to acting continuously for the betterment of society.
      
     The Council Chairman of the HKMU, Dr Conrad Wong, said that the name of the Ethics College reflects the education philosophy of the HKMU. He hoped that the PIC students could establish virtues, meritorious services and good reputations, and become role models for others in society. Through the programme, the HKMU provides diversified learning pathways to help PIC students acquire various skills for catching up in social development, obtaining academic qualifications for employment or further studies, and contributing to society in future.
      
     In a sharing session, PIC students thanked their family members and correctional officers for their support and encouragement, which have reinforced their determination to make positive changes and successfully complete the programme.

              

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on carer support at a media session after officiating at the opening ceremony of the First Hong Kong Creative Aging Arts Festival this aft… read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      The spokesperson for TWGHs Wong Tai Sin Hospital (WTSH) made the following announcement today (August 8):          &… read more

     The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 8) conducted an enforcement operation in San Po Kong to continue its efforts against illegally displayed smoking product advertisements. The Government will continue to strive to lower the demand for smoking products and motivate smokers to quit smoking through a multipronged approach of tobacco control measures in order to effectively reduce the use of tobacco products to safeguard the health of the community.

     During the operation today, officers from TACO seized four smoking-product display boxes from two stores in San Po Kong, which were suspected of contravening the provisions of the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) (the Ordinance) related to the prohibition of smoking product advertisements. TACO’s investigation is ongoing. In accordance with the Ordinance, no person shall display or cause to be displayed any smoking product advertisement. Any person who contravenes the prohibitions is liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000, and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further penalty of $1,500 for each day during which the offence continues.

     A spokesman for the DH stressed that TACO has long been closely monitoring the market situation and taking stringent enforcement actions against violations of the Ordinance, and will appropriately adjust its enforcement strategies according to the actual circumstances from time to time. Apart from following up and investigating each complaint, proactive plainclothes enforcement and interdepartmental joint operations have also been strengthened since 2023. The number of smoking-offence prosecutions has significantly increased from about 6 290 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) in 2022 to over 10 260 in 2023, representing an over 60 per cent increase, indicating the effectiveness of the enforcement strategies. To step up efforts in combating illegal waterpipe smoking in no-smoking areas, TACO conducted over 100 operations against illegal waterpipe smoking activities in no-smoking areas in the past 12 months. A total of 145 FPNs were issued against offending smokers, while 74 summonses were issued to staff members and operators of the bars/restaurants for aiding and abetting illegal smoking and other related offences. Moreover, from January 2023 to July 2024, TACO removed over 2 130 webpages, social media accounts or posts with smoking-product advertisements, and issued 124 summonses and 43 warning letters regarding offences of displaying or distributing smoking-product advertisements during the same period.

     The spokesman pointed out that in order to effectively reduce the use of all tobacco products, it is necessary to lower the demand and motivate smokers to quit smoking through a multipronged approach of tobacco control measures, among which the most proven and effective measures are to increase the tobacco duty, as well as to combat the publicity and promotion of tobacco products, reduce the attractiveness of tobacco products (such as implementation of plain packaging and banning of flavoured tobacco), and to step up the promotion of smoking cessation. The Government announced in June this year the plan to introduce relevant tobacco control measures in the short term, and continue to explore various tobacco control measures in the medium and long term, thereby eliminating the social hazards posed by tobacco products in all aspects and safeguarding the health of the community with a multipronged approach.

     Both the World Health Organization and the World Bank have pointed out that exaggerating illicit cigarette trading activities is the most common tactic used by the tobacco industry to counteract effective tobacco control measures. Raising the tobacco duty and combating illicit cigarette trading activities should be regarded as complementary measures. The 10 short-term measures announced by the Government include the introduction of a duty stamp system in order to differentiate duty-paid cigarettes from duty-not-paid ones. The Government will also amend the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109) to require tobacco products being sold at a price lower than the tobacco duty need to be proved duty-paid, and to increase penalties for duty-not-paid tobacco. These measures will further enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement and combat illicit tobacco more effectively.

     TACO will continue to carry out relevant enforcement operations, and follow up and investigate every complaint regarding smoking-product advertisements, as well as refer any suspected cases of illicit cigarettes that involve violations of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109) to the relevant department for further investigation.

     The spokesman reiterated that all smoking products, regardless of whether they are duty paid or not, pose significant health risks. Smokers should quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. Information on smoking cessation can also be obtained from www.livetobaccofree.hk.

        

     In collaboration with Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), the Art Promotion Office (APO) under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) launched the "Traversing Past and Present" exhibition to show… read more