The Education Bureau (EDB) organised a Mental Health Fun Day at Ocean Park Hong Kong today (March 7) to promote mental health awareness among students. The event had the participation of and received support from the Department of Health, the Advisory Committee on Mental Health (ACMH) and the "Shall We Talk" Initiative.

     The Fun Day enabled students to understand the lives and characteristics of different animals through participating in exploratory activities organised by Ocean Park Hong Kong to experience the four key elements of the 4Rs Mental Health Charter (4Rs Charter) – Rest, Relaxation, Relationship, and Resilience.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said that the purpose of implementing the 4Rs Charter is to help students develop healthy habits, foster a healthy culture in schools and comprehensively enhance the mental health of students, school staff and parents. Currently, more than 650 schools have joined the 4Rs Charter, demonstrating the support and commitment of the school sector in nurturing students' physical and psychological well-being. 

     She said that the EDB will continue to optimise the school curriculum and implement various student growth programmes, helping students develop positive values and enhance resilience. Meanwhile, the EDB will provide schools with more resources and professional support as well as arrange non-governmental organisations to conduct various mental health activities at schools with a view to strengthening the promotion of students' mental health in schools. 

     At the opening ceremony, Dr Choi; the Chairman of the ACMH, Dr Lam Ching-choi; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; and the Chief Executive of the Ocean Park Corporation, Mr Ivan Wong, together with the mascots of Ocean Park Hong Kong, Whiskers and Bao Bao, and other guests, relaxed their body and mind and relieved stress through stretching exercises. In addition, among the other guests in attendance at the opening ceremony were representatives of school councils and school heads' associations of primary and secondary schools, the principals from schools participating in the 4Rs Charter, as well as partner organisations of the 4Rs Charter, joining hands to enhance students' physical and psychological well-being.

     The Fun Day featured eight checkpoints where students could learn tips about sleep and rest. Through learning about animals' characteristics, they could also experience how to relax and release emotions through their five senses. Students worked in groups to complete different problem-solving tasks, fostering teamwork among peers, understanding the importance of building emotional connections with those around them as well as experiencing the benefits of positive attitudes and applying strategies, thereby developing their resilience.

     The EDB appeals to all schools in the territory to join the 4Rs Charter, instil a sense of well-being in students' everyday lives, and work together for their healthy development. The EDB will continue to strengthen the synergy through cross-departmental and cross-sector collaboration to help schools utilise external and community resources for promoting students' mental health.

     Details of the 4Rs Mental Health Charter are set out in the EDB Circular Memorandum No. 60/2024 (applications.edb.gov.hk/circular/upload/EDBCM/EDBCM24060E.pdf) and the 4Rs Mental Health Charter designated webpage (mentalhealth.edb.gov.hk/tc/promotion-at-the-universal-level/promotional-resources-for-schools/121.html).
     

     Seventeen landlords of subdivided units (SDUs), who contravened Part IVA of the Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) Ordinance (Cap. 7) (the Ordinance), pleaded guilty and were fined a total of $44,400 today (March 7) at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts. Since the Ordinance came into force, the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) has successfully prosecuted 610 cases involving a total of 522 SDU landlords, with fines ranging from $400 to $34,800, amounting to a total of $1,438,310.
 
     The offences of these 17 landlords include (1) failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced; and (2) requesting the tenant to pay money other than the types permitted under the Ordinance (including requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance). One of the landlords committed seven offences under (1) and (2) and was fined $7,600.

     The RVD earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon an in-depth investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted against the landlords.
 
     A spokesman for the RVD reiterated that SDU landlords must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, including prohibiting landlords from doing any act calculated to interfere with the peace or comfort of members of the tenant's household, with the intention of causing the tenant to give up occupation of the SDU; or requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance, and also reminded SDU tenants of their rights under the Ordinance, including a four-year (i.e. two years plus two years) security of tenure. He also stressed that the RVD will continue to take resolute enforcement action against any contraventions of the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. In particular, the RVD has been requiring landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether the landlords concerned have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD's request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Depending on the actual circumstances, and having regard to the information and evidence collected, the RVD will take appropriate actions on individual cases, including instigating prosecution against suspected contraventions of the Ordinance.
 
     To help curb illegal acts as soon as possible, members of the public should report to the RVD promptly any suspected cases of contravening the relevant requirements. Reporting can be made through the telephone hotline (2150 8303), by email (enquiries@rvd.gov.hk), by fax (2116 4920), by post (15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon), or in person (visiting the Tenancy Services Section office of the RVD at Room 3816-22, 38/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, and please call 2150 8303 to make an appointment). Furthermore, the RVD has provided a form (Form AR4) (www.rvd.gov.hk/doc/en/forms/ar4.pdf) on its website to facilitate SDU tenants' reporting to the RVD.
 
     The RVD reminds that pursuant to the Ordinance, a regulated cycle of regulated tenancies is to comprise two consecutive regulated tenancies (i.e. the first-term tenancy and second-term tenancy) for an SDU, and the term of each regulated tenancy is two years. A tenant of a first-term tenancy for an SDU is entitled to be granted a second-term tenancy of the regulated cycle, thus enjoying a total of four years of security of tenure. Since the first batch of regulated tenancies has already approached their second-term tenancies, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work in order to assist SDU landlords and tenants to understand the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy. In addition, the RVD has started issuing letters enclosing relevant information to the landlords and tenants concerned of regulated tenancies in batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to remind them about their respective obligations and rights under the Ordinance. These landlords and tenants may also visit the dedicated page for the second-term tenancy on the RVD's website (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/tenancy_matters/second_term_tenancy.html) for the relevant information, including a concise guide, brochures, tutorial videos and frequently asked questions. SDU landlords and tenants are also advised to familiarise themselves with the relevant statutory requirements and maintain close communication regarding the second-term tenancy for handling the matters properly and in a timely manner according to the Ordinance.
 
     For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the telephone hotline (2150 8303) or visit the RVD's webpage (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.html) for the relevant information.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 7) released the latest grading of water quality for 10 gazetted beaches that are open for swimming, including six that are open to swimmers all year round and four others that are open for swimming since March 1.
 
     Nine beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), and one as Fair (Grade 2).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:          

 
Grade 2 beach is:

 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
 
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.
 
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.  Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the EPD's dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast).

     The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Promotion Centre, under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, held the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Youth Entrepreneurship Carnival in Nansha, Guangzhou, today (March 7). The Carnival, with the participation of over 40 youth start-ups, provided a platform for young entrepreneurs in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to showcase their ventures as well as exchanging and sharing ideas.     
 
     In her opening address at the Carnival, the Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan, said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been encouraging and supporting Hong Kong young people to aim high and seize the vast opportunities offered by the GBA to pursue and realise their dreams. To assist young people in grasping the development opportunities of the GBA, the HKSAR Government has introduced various schemes and measures. For entrepreneurship, the HKSAR Government has rolled out the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Funding Scheme for Experiential Programmes at Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases under the Youth Development Fund, among others, with a view to encouraging Hong Kong young people with ambition and creativity to start and develop their businesses in the Mainland cities of the GBA, thereby realising their aspirations."
 
     Ms Chan added that the Promotion Centre was set up by the HKSAR Government to enhance support for Hong Kong residents and enterprises in the Mainland cities of the GBA. She encouraged Hong Kong young people who are interested in developing careers in the GBA to actively participate in the activities organise by the Promotion Centre to foster mutual exchange and inspire more innovative ideas. 
 
     The Carnival was jointly organised by the Promotion Centre, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Exchange Promotional Association, and the Guangzhou Nansha Hong Kong and Macao Youth Wule Service Centre. The event features a youth entrepreneurship bazaar, thematic sharing sessions, and live performances by young people, etc. Among them, the youth entrepreneurship bazaar contains five main themes: advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, new media, and integrated projects, with over 40 booths showcasing innovative achievements of young entrepreneurs and facilitating exchanges. 
 
     Young entrepreneurs were invited to share their entrepreneurial journeys. On-site displays included information boards on youth entrepreneurship policies and a dedicated zone showcasing youth entrepreneurship bases, enabling participants to learn about relevant policies and support measures to facilitate their planning of entrepreneurial pathways.

    

     The Government announced today (March 7) the following senior appointments:

(a) Mr Tom Yip Chi-kwai, Principal Government Town Planner, will take up the post of Director of Planning on March 18, 2025, to succeed Mr Ivan Chung Man-kit who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day;

(b) Captain Eddie Liu Ka-chun, Chief Pilot, will take up the post of Controller, Government Flying Service on March 13, 2025, to succeed Captain West Wu Wai-hung who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day; and

(c) Miss Lillian Chow, Deputy Principal Solicitor, will take up the post of Official Receiver on March 31, 2025, to succeed Ms Phyllis McKenna who will proceed on pre-retirement leave on the same day.

     Commenting on the appointments of Mr Yip, Captain Liu and Miss Chow, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, "Mr Yip, Captain Liu and Miss Chow have proven leadership and management skills, as well as profound professional knowledge. I am confident that they will be able to lead the respective departments to meet the challenges ahead."

     On the retirement of the three senior officials, Mrs Yeung thanked them for their loyal and dedicated service to the community. She wished them a fulfilling and happy retirement.

     Mrs Yeung said, "Mr Chung has served with diligence and commitment in the civil service throughout the past 35 years. As Director of Planning, he has made significant contributions to increasing land supply and mapping out the territorial spatial development strategy for Hong Kong and formulated sustainable land use strategies and plans in the Northern Metropolis and other new areas. Mr Chung has also played a key role in assisting the work of the Town Planning Board.

     "Captain Wu has served with devotion and commitment in the service for almost 37 years. As Controller, Government Flying Service, he has made sustained efforts in enhancing the efficiency and professional excellence of the department to provide emergency search and rescue operations as well as aviation support for the community and government departments."

     Mrs Yeung said, "Ms McKenna has served with professionalism and commitment in the civil service for 36 years. As Official Receiver, she has made sustained efforts in enhancing the efficiency and service quality of the department. She has also enhanced the image of Hong Kong by fostering international exchanges and co-operation on insolvency matters."

     Brief biographical notes of the six officers are set out below:

Mr Ivan Chung Man-kit
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     Mr Chung joined the Government as Assistant Town Planner in November 1989 and was promoted to Chief Town Planner in August 2010, to Government Town Planner in June 2017 and to Principal Government Town Planner in May 2019 before taking up the position as Director of Planning in January 2021.

Captain West Wu Wai-hung
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     Captain Wu joined the then Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (now the Government Flying Service) as Observer/Crewman in March 1988. He was appointed as Cadet Pilot in August 1990. He was promoted to Pilot II in September 1992, to Pilot I in September 1995, to Senior Pilot in November 2000 and to Chief Pilot in October 2008. He has been the Controller, Government Flying Service since September 2019.

Ms Phyllis McKenna
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     Ms McKenna joined the Government as Solicitor in November 1988 before being promoted to Senior Solicitor in March 1992, to Assistant Principal Solicitor in September 2006 and to Deputy Principal Solicitor in October 2012. She has been the Official Receiver since February 2017.

Mr Tom Yip Chi-kwai
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     Mr Yip joined the Government as Assistant Town Planner in August 1994 and was promoted to Chief Town Planner in September 2015, to Government Town Planner in June 2020 and to Principal Government Town Planner in September 2022. He is currently the Deputy Director of Planning/Territorial.

Captain Eddie Liu Ka-chun
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     Captain Liu joined the Customs and Excise Department as Customs Officer in July 2005. He was appointed as Cadet Pilot in the Government Flying Service in October 2005. He was promoted to Pilot II in April 2008, to Pilot I in June 2013, to Senior Pilot in September 2019 and to Chief Pilot in September 2023.

Miss Lillian Chow
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     Miss Chow joined the Government as Solicitor in March 2007. She was promoted to Senior Solicitor in November 2010, to Assistant Principal Solicitor in September 2017 and to Deputy Principal Solicitor in July 2020.