The Mediation Week 2022 organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) was officially launched today (May 2). The five-day programme features a series of thematic events and the Mediation Conference 2022 to promote the use of mediation. To kick off the Mediation Week, the School Mediation Seminar cum 5th Hong Kong Secondary School Peer Mediation Competition Final was held this morning.
 
     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, remarked that the DoJ spares no effort in promoting the use of mediation as an amicable means to resolve disputes in various sectors. It is ideally to nurture the culture of mediation amongst students who will appreciate the importance and the usefulness of mediation skills in resolving conflicts amicably. This is vital to maintain their personal relationships and ultimately contribute to the building of a harmonious community.

     The theme of the School Mediation Seminar was "Peer Mediation – a Must-have Tool for Schools". This Seminar first featured the 5th Hong Kong Secondary School Peer Mediation Competition Final, in which students became young aspiring mediators and displayed their peer mediation skills under spotlight. True Light Girls’ College became the champion of the competition. In the armchair discussion in the second session of the Seminar, speakers with extensive experience in peer mediation explored the common disputes among students that were suitable for mediation and how peer mediation could be used to prevent escalation of school disputes from the perspectives of mediator, lawyer, teacher and social worker. Speakers also agreed that cultivating the mediation culture could reduce conflicts and promote the building of a harmonious and empathetic community.

     The Seminar was well-received by students and the education sector. It was hoped that through the Seminar, students, parents, teachers and other education workers could all gain an in-depth understanding of mediation and the values behind it, thereby promoting schools to develop the mediation culture, resolving conflicts with a positive and constructive mindset.

     Today's event was co-organised by the Department of Justice, the Education Bureau, Rotary International District 3450 and the Joint Mediation Helpline Office. For more information and details, please visit the dedicated homepage.

          

     The Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) today (May 2) reminded the registered rates and/or Government rent payers and their authorised agents to serve the applications on the RVD on or before May 6 for accounts without autopay instruction if they wish to apply for deferring the payment due date to August 12 for the April to June 2022 quarterly rates and/or Government rent (and that for January to March 2022 if still outstanding) in respect of Specified Commercial Premises (see Annex) subject to an existing tenancy. Any application received by the RVD after the deadline will not be processed. For rates and/or Government rent accounts with autopay instruction, the application already closed on April 20.
 
     To enable expeditious processing of applications, eligible registered payers are strongly advised to apply online by submitting an electronic form (e-RVD 1070) using the Electronic Submission of Forms service on the RVD's website www.rvd.gov.hk. Alternatively, they may submit a completed form (RVD 1070) by post or in person to the RVD at 15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon. In this connection, the form RVD 1070 is available round the clock by downloading from the RVD's website, by calling its hotline 2152 0111 (handled by 1823) or its automated telephone enquiry service on 2152 2152.
 
     This administrative measure to defer payment of rates and Government rent for Specified Commercial Premises forms part of the enhancements to the Rental Enforcement Moratorium measure proposed in the 2022-23 Budget to enhance liquidity support of business tenants of specified sectors affected by the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic. The Ordinance for introducing the statutory measure, i.e. the Temporary Protection Measures for Business Tenants (COVID-19 Pandemic) Ordinance, commences operation on May 1 upon its gazettal.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) and the Hong Kong Paediatric Society will co-organise two virtual lectures this Thursday (May 5) and Saturday (May 7) to invite paediatricians to provide expert advice to parents on "Complications of COVID-19 infection and importance of COVID-19 vaccination in children". At the same time, a new round of school vaccination day activities will be launched to further promote COVID-19 vaccination for students.
      
     A spokesman for the EDB said, "Vaccination is the most effective way to protect against COVID-19 and reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death should one get infected. A high vaccination rate will help construct a more effective protective barrier in schools and create a safer learning environment for students in the resumption of half-day face-to-face classes. Following the gradual and orderly resumption of face-to-face classes of all schools in Hong Kong, some parents may still have doubts about the complications of COVID-19 infection or the possible side effects of vaccination.  In this regard, we have invited paediatricians to give virtual lectures and professional consultations to parents to allay their concerns.  We will also invite schools and parents to share their experience to help promote vaccination. We appeal to parents and school stakeholders to actively participate in the virtual lectures to understand more about the importance of vaccination."
      
     Parents of all kindergartens, primary and secondary schools as well as school principals and teachers can register for the two identical virtual lectures through the hyperlinks below or the QR codes on the poster (see Annex). The lectures will also be broadcast live by RTHK VNEWS (https://fb.com/RTHKVNEWS).  The lectures will be conducted in Cantonese.
 
First lecture:
Date：May 5, 2022 (Thursday)
Time：7pm to 8.30pm
 
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvdu-hrzMoH9ee4NQ5sQK2jsLb6tvMzqrx
 
Second lecture:
Date：May 7, 2022 (Saturday)
Time：11am to 12.30pm
 
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrdeurrTkrGNbqOvvXghZshh-hxryMvloj
 
     The spokesman said that the EDB has been working closely with the relevant government departments to provide diversified and convenient means for students to receive vaccination. Apart from holding the virtual lectures, the EDB will organise at least seven "Vaccination Day" activities in various districts of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories.      
      
     The EDB, as the school sponsoring body of government schools, has been actively promoting vaccination for students. A number of government schools will serve as vaccination centres this week to arrange vaccination for school staff, students and their family members in the districts through school outreach by COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Stations or group booking to Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs).
      
     In addition, the EDB will jointly organise "Vaccination Day" activities in mid-May with a number of district school heads associations (including Hong Kong Island School Heads Association, the Association of Heads of Secondary Schools of Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi District, Tsuen Wan Primary School Heads' Association, Kwai Chung District Primary School Heads Association, Tsing Yi Primary School Heads’ Association, and Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi District Kindergarten Heads Association) to facilitate students, parents and their family members to get vaccinated through Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) School Outreach. The respective district school heads associations have launched publicity for the events and parents in the respective districts can register early through their children’s schools.
      
     The spokesman again strongly appealed to schools and parents to make full use of various measures and means provided by the Government to arrange vaccination for students so that they can get effective protection and resume their happy school life.  
      
     Schools can arrange group bookings to CVCs and designated Student Health Service Centres of the Department of Health for students to receive the Sinovac vaccine, and/or Children Community Vaccination Centres for children aged 5 to 11 to receive the BioNTech vaccine.  Booking and transportation services for schools will be provided by the Government. Schools can also contact doctors on their own or through the EDB to match doctors under the VSS School Outreach to provide outreach Sinovac vaccination service for students.  Apart from the above arrangements through schools, parents/guardians can also make their own bookings for their children through the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme website (https://booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk/forms/index.jsp) direct.
      
     The EDB will continue to urge schools to make use of diversified channels including parent-teacher associations to step up publicity and encourage parents to proactively arrange vaccination for students in order to protect the health of individuals and the community.

     The Government announced today (May 2) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department in collaboration with the cross-disciplinary team of the University of Hong Kong had strengthened the sampling of sewage for virus testing in all districts, and had detected positive results in many areas, indicating that there may be hidden cases in the premises within these areas.
     
Rapid test

     As regards positive sewage testing results with relatively high viral loads in the following areas, the respective District Offices will commence distributing about 240 000 sets of COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits to residents, cleaning workers and property management staff working in the following areas for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identify infected persons:
 

• Tuen Mun District – Chelsea Heights
• Kowloon City District – Residential premises around Tam Kung Road and Shing Tak Street (See Annex)
• Sai Kung District – King Ming Court, Well On Garden, Finery Park, Radiant Towers and Po Lam Estate
• Sham Shui Po District – Dynasty Heights and Beacon Heights
• Tsuen Wan District – Bayview Garden, Serenade Cove, Phase 1 – 3 of Belvedere Garden and Greenview Court
• Yau Tsim Mong District – Man Cheong Building, Man King Building, Man Yiu Building, Man Yuen Building, Man Ying Building, Man Wah Building, Man Wai Building, Man Fai Building, Chungking Mansions, Hankow Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui Mansion, Far East Mansion, Mirador Mansion, Hai Phong Mansion and Harilela Mansion

     Members of the public may refer to (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/rat/eng/rat.html) for enquiries relating to the use of the RAT kits.

     When using an RAT kit, please pay attention to and follow the instructions from the manufacturer to perform the test and read the result properly. It is advisable to record the displayed result by taking a photo immediately after reading. Users should wash their hands before and after performing the tests, and avoid placing non-essential items within the specimen collection area. After completing the test, wrap and seal all components of the test kit carefully and dispose properly. If the household environment is contaminated during the specimen collecting process, disinfection should be conducted with 1 in 49 diluted bleach solution or 70 per cent alcohol.

     People who obtained a positive result through an RAT for the first time can report via the online platform "Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test" (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp/). If individuals encounter difficulties using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 183 6119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will contact the relevant person later to finish the report procedure.

     The Government announced today (May 2) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department in collaboration with the cross-disciplinary team of the University of Hong Kong had strengthened the sampling of sewage for virus testing in all districts, and had detected positive results in many areas, indicating that there may be hidden cases in the premises within these areas.
     
Rapid test

     As regards positive sewage testing results with relatively high viral loads in the following areas, the respective District Offices will commence distributing about 240 000 sets of COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits to residents, cleaning workers and property management staff working in the following areas for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identify infected persons:
 

• Tuen Mun District – Chelsea Heights
• Kowloon City District – Residential premises around Tam Kung Road and Shing Tak Street (See Annex)
• Sai Kung District – King Ming Court, Well On Garden, Finery Park, Radiant Towers and Po Lam Estate
• Sham Shui Po District – Dynasty Heights and Beacon Heights
• Tsuen Wan District – Bayview Garden, Serenade Cove, Phase 1 – 3 of Belvedere Garden and Greenview Court
• Yau Tsim Mong District – Man Cheong Building, Man King Building, Man Yiu Building, Man Yuen Building, Man Ying Building, Man Wah Building, Man Wai Building, Man Fai Building, Chungking Mansions, Hankow Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui Mansion, Far East Mansion, Mirador Mansion, Hai Phong Mansion and Harilela Mansion

     Members of the public may refer to (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/rat/eng/rat.html) for enquiries relating to the use of the RAT kits.

     When using an RAT kit, please pay attention to and follow the instructions from the manufacturer to perform the test and read the result properly. It is advisable to record the displayed result by taking a photo immediately after reading. Users should wash their hands before and after performing the tests, and avoid placing non-essential items within the specimen collection area. After completing the test, wrap and seal all components of the test kit carefully and dispose properly. If the household environment is contaminated during the specimen collecting process, disinfection should be conducted with 1 in 49 diluted bleach solution or 70 per cent alcohol.

     People who obtained a positive result through an RAT for the first time can report via the online platform "Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test" (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp/). If individuals encounter difficulties using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 183 6119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will contact the relevant person later to finish the report procedure.