The Government announced today (March 31) the reappointment of six incumbent members of the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) Committee. The appointment of Mr Shum Ho-kit and Miss Amy Chan Lim-chee as the new Chairman and Vice-Chairman, and Miss Louisa Cheung Yee-sha, Mr Lawrence Lam Chi-bun, Miss Charlotte Lau Hei-lam, Dr Michael Liu Tsz-chung, Professor Ming Wai-kit, Ms Ng Mei-yee, Mr Wilson Or Chong-shing, Ms Tse Yi-lam, Ms Macy Wong Chor-kei and Mr Yim Chi-fung as new members, was also announced. The appointment of these 18 members will take effect from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2027.

     The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, welcomed the appointments and looked forward to the new members continuing to demonstrate the care for community and cross-sectoral collaboration that the CIIF seeks to promote. She also expressed her appreciation to the outgoing Chairman, Mr Kwan Chuk-fai, and members Professor Alan Chow Ping-kay, Dr Fan Ning, Ms Amy Fung Dun-mi, Professor Vivian Lou Wei-qun, Miss Yanice Mak Wing-yan, Mr Francis Ngai Wah-sing, Miss Joanna Wong Kwan-chiu, Ms Wong May-kwan and Mr Wong Wai-kit, for their efforts and contributions to the CIIF during their term of service. 
        
     The membership list of the CIIF Committee, with effect from April 1, 2025, is as follows:

Chairman
———–
Mr Shum Ho-kit

Vice-Chairman
—————-
Miss Amy Chan Lim-chee

Members
———-
Ms Karin Ann
Miss Louisa Cheung Yee-sha
Mr Lawrence Lam Chi-bun
Miss Charlotte Lau Hei-lam
Mr Lau Hing-wah
Ms Janus Lau Yuen-yee
Mr Lee Kwong-yu
Miss Leung Sze-wan
Dr Michael Liu Tsz-chung
Professor Ming Wai-kit
Ms Ng Mei-yee
Mr Wilson Or Chong-shing
Dr Johannes Poon Yin-kwong
Ms So Lai-chun
Mr Johnny Sze Chun-hong
Ms Tse Yi-lam
Mr Andy Wan Ka-kit
Ms Macy Wong Chor-kei
Mr Yim Chi-fung
Mr Yu Hon-kwan

     The CIIF was established in 2002 to promote social capital development through encouraging mutual support in the neighbourhood, community participation and cross-sectoral partnership. The CIIF Committee is tasked to handle applications for funding under the CIIF and advise the Government on the administration of the CIIF as well as the development of social capital in Hong Kong.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (March 31) that lifesaving services will be provided at 22 gazetted beaches (as set out in the Annex) from April 1. 

    During the swimming season (from April to October), lifesaving services will be provided daily at the gazetted beaches from 9am to 6pm. Service provision will be extended to 8am to 7pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the peak period from June to August. 

     Swimmers should pay attention to safety when enjoying the fun of swimming, and should only go to beaches where lifesaving services are provided. Please do not enter the water when the red flag is hoisted.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (March 31) that for the upcoming swimming season, public swimming pool complexes will progressively open for public use from April 1 or upon completion of annual maintenance. Swimmers should mind their safety, care for themselves and others, and keep the swimming pools clean and hygienic while enjoying the fun of swimming.

     From April to October, LCSD swimming pools will open daily from 6.30am to 10pm in three sessions with two one-hour breaks. Mui Wo Swimming Pool will open daily from 8.30am to 6pm in two sessions (and in one session from 7pm to 10pm on Fridays (Note 1)). Maintenance works are being carried out at Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool, which is temporarily closed.

     For the 18 pool complexes with heated and non-heated swimming facilities, the heated facilities will continue to open from April 1 to 15. The non-heated facilities will open for public use from April 16.

     The 18 swimming pool complexes are:

Hong Kong Island: 

Kowloon: 

New Territories: 

     To maintain the hygiene of public swimming pools, each pool will be closed for thorough cleaning once a week, in addition to the regular daily cleaning. The thorough cleaning will be conducted on a designated weekday (Monday to Friday) from 10am to the end of the second session. If the designated day falls on a public holiday, the cleaning will be rescheduled to another weekday in the same week.

     Individual swimming pools to be temporarily closed in specified periods in 2025 for maintenance works are set out in the Annex.

     To foster a clean environment for public swimming pools, swimmers should maintain personal hygiene and observe the pool rules, including the following points:
(a) Swimmers should shower before entering the pool deck;
(b) Swimmers should walk through the shower bath and footbath;
(c) Swimmers should not go swimming if they feel unwell and should seek medical consultation early;
(d) Swimmers are advised to use the toilet before swimming and should NOT urinate or defecate in the pools. They should leave the water immediately and use the toilet if they have to vomit; and
(e) Parents should teach their children about the importance of maintaining personal and public hygiene.

     Holders of public swimming pool monthly tickets are encouraged to apply for monthly ticket smart cards, which are printed with the card holder's photo and preloaded with information on the validity period. The smart cards enable holders to enter the pools easily and conveniently without having to produce documentary proof of identity. Interested monthly ticket holders can apply for smart cards free of charge. For details, please visit the following website: www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/swim-intro/swim-ticket.html.

     For details of the opening arrangements and the schedule of the weekly cleaning operations of public swimming pools, please visit the following website: www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/swim-intro/swimlocation.html.

Note 1: Mui Wo Swimming Pool will open from 8.30am to 6pm in two sessions on April 4 and April 18 (public holiday).

Note 2: Yuen Long Swimming Pool will be temporarily closed from April 10 to 15 for upgrading works of the electricity supply system.

     â€‹The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) noted that the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) has published its preliminary report on an air traffic control (ATC) incident that occurred on February 27. The CAD has attached great importance to the incident since it took place, and besides extending its full co-operation to the AAIA on its investigation, the CAD has also immediately initiated an internal investigation and follow-up actions in accordance with procedures.

     The CAD's internal investigation revealed that the primary cause of the incident was related to human factors. It was an isolated incident which involved non-compliance by ATC personnel with established procedures for arranging aircraft for take-off. This resulted in two aircraft not being able to maintain the required separation. After the incident, both aircraft continued to their destinations according to their flight plans.

     The investigation also indicated that the co-ordinated take-off ATC procedure involved in this incident has been in place and practised for many years. Following the incident, the CAD immediately restated to all tower air traffic controllers the ATC procedures and requirements that must be followed. Arrangements have been made to temporarily remove the personnel involved from frontline ATC duties, and appropriate follow-up action will be taken in accordance with procedures. Furthermore, the CAD has formulated additional measures to strengthen procedures, including the relevant operational procedures and equipment monitoring, with the aim of preventing the recurrence of similar incidents in the future.

     The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) released the Accident Investigation Preliminary Report and Public Notice PLR-2025-02 on an accident involving a Niviuk Artik R paraglider, which lost control and landed on a lawn at Ngong Ping, Ma On Shan, on February 11, 2025. The pilot was injured.   

     A spokesperson for the AAIA said that the Preliminary Report has been published to provide factual information established in the investigation's early evidence collection phase to both the aviation industry and the general public in a timely manner, and should be regarded as tentative. The full report is available for download from the AAIA webpage (www.tlb.gov.hk/aaia/eng/investigation_reports/index.html).

     "The investigation team is conducting a detailed analysis of the data and information collected in order to determine the circumstances and causes of this occurrence with a view to preventing a recurrence in conjunction with identifying areas for further investigation or lines of inquiry to follow up," the spokesperson said.  

     The AAIA, an independent investigation authority formed under the Transport and Logistics Bureau, is responsible for the investigation of civil aircraft accidents and incidents in accordance with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations (Cap. 448B) and with reference to the International Civil Aviation Organization's standards.