The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) held the Greening School Project Award prize presentation ceremony at the Kowloon Park Sports Centre today (July 6) to commend 39 schools for their green school projects and contributions to environmental greening.

     The LCSD is committed to promoting greening. To enhance students' interest in and knowledge of horticulture and to beautify school environments, the department provides annual cash subsidies under its Greening School Subsidy Scheme to encourage more greening and planting activities on campuses. The targets of the subsidy scheme are kindergartens and primary, secondary and special schools throughout the territory. Greening School Project Awards are also presented to schools to acknowledge their outstanding achievements in campus greening.

     Addressing the prize presentation ceremony, the Chief Leisure Manager (Green Campaign) of the LCSD, Ms Tina Tai, said that the Greening School Subsidy Scheme is one of the educational and community involvement activities under the Green Hong Kong Campaign. The scheme has been well received, with the number of participating schools increasing from around 300 in the initial year to nearly 900 this year. The standards of the green projects have continued to rise as well. It is encouraging to see both teachers and students rallying together to make their schools greener and prettier. Some of the projects have also incorporated eco-friendly elements, which can help raise students' awareness of environmental protection.

     Ms Tai added that the smooth implementation of greening initiatives in Hong Kong has been made possible with the active participation and ardent support from different sectors of the community. She also thanked the representatives from the Community Involvement Committee on Greening of the Development Bureau, the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects and the Education Bureau as adjudicators.

     The Greening School Project Award was presented in eight categories. The champions are as follows:

1) Large Garden Plot Project (Secondary School Section):
ELCHK Lutheran Academy (Secondary Section)

2) Large Garden Plot Project (Primary School Section):
Kwong Ming School

3) Small Garden Plot Project (Secondary School Section):
Buddhist Ho Nam Kam College

4) Small Garden Plot Project (Primary School Section):
Precious Blood Primary School (South Horizons)

5) Garden Plot Project (Kindergarten Section):
TWGHs Liu Yan Tak Memorial Kindergarten

6) Tree Planting Project:
Fanling Public School

7) Horticultural Maintenance:
AD & FD of POHL Leung Sing Tak School

8) Best Green Concept:
TWGHs Liu Yan Tak Memorial Kindergarten

     The list of other winners of the Greening School Project Award is available on the LCSD webpage www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/green/education/greeningschool/2023schoolawardlist.html. 

     Other officiating guests included non-official member of the Community Involvement Committee on Greening of the Development Bureau Dr Angie Ng; Vice President of the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects Mr Benni Pong; and the Chief School Development Officer (Yau Tsim and Mong Kok District) of the Education Bureau, Ms Jessie Woo.

                      

     Following are the opening remarks by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the Opening Ceremony of Law Society of Hong Kong's Teen Talk 2024 "Deepening Legal Cooperation, Youth Shaping Tomorrow" GBA Study Tour today (July 6):

Mr Roden Tong (President of the Law Society of Hong Kong), Mr Chen Ming (Member of the Party Committee of Justice Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality and Full time Secretary of the Party Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal Lawyer Industry), Mr Liu Chunhua (Director-General of the Department of Law of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, students from Hong Kong and Shenzhen,

     Good morning! We are here today in Shenzhen Talent Park, a place that serves to remind us of the value of talents and their contributions to the development of the city. It is with great pleasure that we gather here today for the opening ceremony of "Teen Talk 2024", an annual flagship event of the Law Society of Hong Kong, and with you all, future leaders of the cities of Hong Kong and Shenzhen. 

     The Greater Bay Area (GBA) has a combined population of over 86 million and GDP over RMB13 trillion in 2022. The objective of the development of GBA is to deepen co-operation amongst Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and leverage the complementary advantages of the three places, to promote co-ordinated regional economic development, with a view to develop a world-class bay area ideal for living, working and travelling. GBA presents various opportunities and exciting career prospects for talented individuals. 

     Hong Kong, being the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region and having a long-standing and well-established common law tradition, has a wealth of expertise in bridging different legal systems. Hong Kong displays its pivotal role as a "super connector" connecting with the rest of the world. Talents can make good use of the unique advantages of Hong Kong to tap into the development of opportunities of GBA. 

     The HKSAR Government is committed to contribute to the training of legal talents. The Department of Justice will take forward the establishment of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy. It is also through initiatives, like the present thoughtfully-organized study tour of the Law Society of Hong Kong, that we lay the foundation for legal talents. Through this two-day tour, you will have the chance to visit different places, including law court and arbitration center, in Shenzhen. This experience will provide you with insights that will shape your future endeavours, not only in the legal field, but beyond. 

     Let us approach this experience with open minds and eager hearts, and seize this opportunity to learn from each other and foster an exchange of ideas that will benefit both our legal systems. 

     Lastly, I wish the study tour a great success, and all participants a most rewarding and enjoyable time in GBA. Thank you. 

  

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Student of the Year Awards 2023/24 Presentation Ceremony today (July 6): 
 
Catherine (Chief Executive Officer of the South China Morning Post, Ms Catherine So), Gabriel (Executive Director, Charities and Community of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dr Gabriel Leung), Tammy (Editor-in-Chief of the South China Morning Post, Ms Tammy Tam), Advisory Board members, judges, parents, principals, teachers, students, ladies and gentlemen, 

     Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to join you all on this happy occasion – the presentation ceremony of the annual Student of the Year Awards. 

     Today, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of senior secondary school students throughout Hong Kong. In total, there are ten distinct award categories, covering academic performance, language, arts, sports, community service, and more. 

     I must first thank the Awards organiser and sponsor, the South China Morning Post and The Hong Kong Jockey Club respectively, for putting together this meaningful event year after year. Their far-reaching commitment to education – to the youth of Hong Kong – inspires us all.

     New this year is the "Sustainability Advocate" category, showcasing strong commitment and leadership in advancing sustainability. Our future depends on sustainability, so I am glad to see it recognised in the Awards. 

     The Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to building a sustainable future for Hong Kong and co-operating with young people in doing so.

     A good example is the Sustainable Development School Outreach Programme, as well as the Sustainable Development School Award Programme, launched by the Environment and Ecology Bureau this school year. The programmes offered seminars, workshops, field trips and ambassador training, where some 75 000 students from around 200 primary and secondary schools learnt the concept and importance of sustainable development.

     Our Government is equally committed to nurturing a new generation of youth with an affection for the motherland and Hong Kong, with global perspectives, and with positive thinking. As you all know, the Government launched a holistic Youth Development Blueprint two years ago, with more than 160 initiatives to chart a clear pathway for different stakeholders in society to drive youth development.

     And we continued to meet young people's needs, with nearly 60 new measures introduced last year. Those measures ranged from promoting patriotic education, strengthening vocational and professional training, to enhancing support for mental health and fostering youth engagement.

     We will also organise the first-edition Youth Development Summit in August. Guest speakers, and youth groups, from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and overseas will gather in Hong Kong, exchanging views for mutual learning on issues of interest to young people. 

     I am therefore pleased to say that the theme of this year's Awards, "Empowering Collective Impact", couldn't be timelier. To provide a conducive environment for young people to grow and thrive, the collective efforts of the Government and all stakeholders are essential.

     Ladies and gentlemen, your commitment to youth development is reassuring. I am talking about not just our soon-to-be announced student winners and runners-up, but also their parents who must be proud.

     I am talking, too, about the principals, teachers, and many others who have – so well, so selflessly – guided our students towards success every step of the way.

     My thanks, once again, to the South China Morning Post and The Hong Kong Jockey Club, as well as the expert judging panel, for their dedication to this year's Awards.

     Together, collectively, we make a profound difference for our youth and for Hong Kong.

     And my congratulations to all the award winners and finalists this year. I have every confidence that you will continue to build on your achievements in your education – and in your bright career ahead. 

     Ladies and gentlemen, I know you will all enjoy this very special day. You certainly deserve it.

     On that note, I wish you all the best in the year to come. Thank you very much.

    

     Police today (July 6) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Kwun Tong.

     Mak Kwai-king, aged 82, went missing after she was last seen on Lei Yue Mun Road yesterday (July 5) afternoon. Her family made a report to Police on the same day.

     She is about 1.5 metres tall, 45 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and short white hair. She was last seen wearing a light purple vest jacket, a light blue short-sleeved shirt, dark-coloured trousers and  dark-coloured sneakers.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0331 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

    

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on Social Workers Registration Board at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (July 6):

Reporter: Mr Sun, can you talk more about the reformed Social Workers Registration Board? How would the appointment of Mr Herman Hui, who is a lawyer by practice, would help in leading the statutory body? Also, lawmakers said that the Board lacked members from smaller organisations. Do you agree with the view that the board should include more people from smaller organisations to make it more inclusive and representative? 

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Thank you very much. The new Social Workers Registration Board was formed yesterday with the appointment of Mr Herman Hui as the new Chairperson. We believe the Board is going to carry out its duties in accordance with the law, including the four major tasks I have asked the Board to take in the coming year, including:

(1) setting up a mechanism to deal with social workers who have committed offenses relating to national security; 
(2) reviewing the Code of Practice for Registered Social Workers;
(3) reviewing the appointment of members to the Disciplinary Committee Panel; and 
(4) setting up a mechanism for continuing professional development. 

     Herman is well known in the welfare field. He has been serving the sector for more than 30 years. While he is not a registered social worker, for those in the welfare sector, Herman is so well known because of his dedication, commitment, and also his selfless services to the sector. I am sure he is going to command the respect of the sector. The deputy Chairperson, Miss Grace Chan, is a very capable, competent, and well-regarded social worker in the field. The two together is going to lead the Board forward. 

     The appointment to the Board is all ad personam. It is on a personal basis. They are requested to carry out their duties dutifully and not having regard to where they are coming from. There is no difference between those coming from larger, smaller or medium-sized welfare organisations. They are to look after the social workers from their individual points of view. The Social Workers Registration Board is only concerning the registration of individual social workers and not the welfare institutions. It is not relevant whether they are coming from larger or smaller organisations in the field. Thank you very much.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)