The Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (CDTA) with Georgia signed in October last year will come into force on July 1, 2021, after the completion of the relevant ratification procedures. The CDTA will have e… read more
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited Endeavour Education Centre today (June 8) and met with the Chairman of its management committee, Mrs Rita Fan, and members of the management committee to exchange views on enhancing young people’s understanding of the nation and promoting the Constitution and the Basic Law.
Mr Cheung first toured the centre to learn about how it helps young people, through the Internet and various channels as well as a wide range of activities, to enrich their knowledge of Chinese culture and history, acquire concrete understanding of the country’s development and develop a proper sense of the nation, its people and its history.
Mr Cheung said, “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to publicity, promotion and education on the Constitution and the Basic Law, with a view to enabling members of the public, in particular young people, to have a comprehensive, accurate and in-depth understanding of the Constitution and the Basic Law, so as to strengthen their sense of belonging to the nation and boost their national identity.
“At the same time, the Government also has high regard for enhancing young people’s knowledge of the nation’s history, culture and developments and achievements in different aspects to foster their sense of national identity, and raising their awareness of national security and the obligation to abide by the law.”
Mr Cheung later had a meeting with Mrs Fan and members of the management committee. He thanked Endeavour Education Centre for organising a variety of activities over the years to boost young people’s understanding of the motherland. He also noted that the centre has been supportive of the Government’s work in promoting the Constitution and the Basic Law by, among others, organising and supporting the significant Constitution Day Seminars at which Mrs Fan and members of the management committee shared their insights with the participants as guests. The seminar held online last year was very successful, recording more than 170 000 views from various platforms.
Mr Cheung also expressed his appreciation to the centre for hosting the training sessions commissioned by the Education Bureau on the Constitution, the Basic Law and the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (National Security Law). The training sessions aim to equip teachers, principals and school management committee members with better knowledge of the Constitution and the Basic Law and clear up any confusion they may have on the latter, as well as address their worries on the National Security Law. This in turn will enable them to be more capable and confident in explaining the relevant contents to students.
He especially thanked Mrs Fan for designing the curriculum framework and mode of instruction, as well as arranging for local and Mainland experts to be speakers, for the “Respecting the Law, Reinforcing the Rule of Law” Teacher Training Programme. The programme systematically helps teachers understand Hong Kong’s constitutional status and rule of law and deepens their understanding of values such as respect for the law and rule of law. He said he was pleased to learn that the programme has been well received among teachers.
Mr Cheung stressed that the Government would continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach in stepping up promotion and education for people from all walks of life through platforms under the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee to enhance their knowledge of the Constitution, the Basic Law and the nation. “I look forward to having the support from Endeavour Education Centre for our work, both regarding the promotion of the Constitution and the Basic Law and in raising young people’s understanding of our nation,” he said.
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 8) the results of the Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) for May 2021.
The current diffusion index (DI) on business receipts amongst SMEs declined from 47.1 in April 2021 in the contractionary zone to 44.3 in May 2021, whereas the one-month’s ahead (i.e. June 2021) outlook DI on business receipts was 48.3. Analysed by sector, the current DIs on business receipts for majority of the surveyed sectors dropped by varying degrees in May 2021 as compared with previous month, particularly for the wholesale trade (from 45.9 to 37.8) and business services (from 48.6 to 44.5).
The current DI on new orders for the import and export trades decreased from 47.9 in April 2021 to 46.6 in May 2021, whereas the outlook DI on new orders in one month’s time (i.e. June 2021) was 47.9.
Commentary
A government spokesman said that business sentiment among SMEs stayed cautious in overall terms in May. Compared with the preceding month, the sub-indices for most sectors fell within the contractionary zone. Nevertheless, that for the restaurants sector held steady in the expansionary zone.
The spokesman added that business sentiment going forward would continue to hinge on the development of the epidemic situation and the pace of global economic recovery. It is thus pivotal for the whole community to do our best to prevent and fight the disease together and actively participate in the vaccination programme, so as to create favourable conditions for economic activities to revive to the greatest extent. The Government will monitor the situation closely.
Further information
The Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises aims to provide a quick reference, with minimum time lag, for assessing the short-term business situation faced by SMEs. SMEs covered in this survey refer to establishments with fewer than 50 persons engaged. Respondents were asked to exclude seasonal fluctuations in reporting their views. Based on the views collected from the survey, a set of diffusion indices (including current and outlook diffusion indices) is compiled. A reading above 50 indicates that the business condition is generally favourable, whereas that below 50 indicates otherwise. As for statistics on the business prospects of prominent establishments in Hong Kong, users may refer to the publication entitled “Report on Quarterly Business Tendency Survey” released by the C&SD.
It should be noted that the results of the survey should be interpreted with care. The survey solicits feedback from a panel sample of about 600 SMEs each month and the survey findings are thus subject to sample size constraint. Views collected from the survey refer only to those of respondents on their own establishments rather than those on the respective sectors they are engaged in. Besides, in this type of opinion survey on expected business situation, the views collected in the survey are affected by the events in the community occurring around the time of enumeration, and it is difficult to establish precisely the extent to which respondents’ perception of the business situation accords with the underlying trends. For this survey, main bulk of the data were collected in the last week of the reference month.
More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Monthly Survey on the Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises”. Users can download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080015&scode=300).
Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7246; email: sme-survey@censtatd.gov.hk). read more
A 47-year-old man was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for 14 days by the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today (June 8) for violating the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E) (the Regulation).
The man was issued a compulsory quarantine order when he entered Hong Kong on November 13, 2020, stating that he must conduct quarantine at a hotel for 14 days. The Police subsequently located him in Sham Shui Po on November 24, 2020, upon receipt of a report. Investigations revealed that he did not enter the place of quarantine after his entry into Hong Kong. He was charged with contravening sections 8(4) and 8(5) of the Regulation and was sentenced by the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts today to immediate imprisonment for 14 days.
Breaching a quarantine order is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. A spokesman for the Department of Health said the sentence sends a clear message to the community that breaching a compulsory quarantine order is a criminal offence that the Government will not tolerate, and solemnly reminded the public to comply with the regulations. As of today, a total of 142 persons have been convicted by the courts for breaching compulsory quarantine orders and have received sentences including immediate imprisonment for up to 14 weeks or a fine of up to $15,000. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who has breached the relevant regulations. read more
The annual International Arts Carnival (IAC) is returning this summer with a series of enjoyable arts programmes for families. Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the carnival will run from July 9 to August 15. Tickets will be available for sale from tomorrow (June 9) onwards.
The IAC was cancelled last year due to the pandemic and online programmes were offered instead. This year, the carnival has teamed up with local groups to present a variety of stage programmes including musicals, puppetry, drama, theatre for the young, experiential theatre, a multimedia concert and more. Films from around the world for children and youths will also be screened.
Actors’ Family will open the festival with the touching original musical “Cinematic Memories on Train No. 5”, which explores family ties. Teaming up with celebrated music director Chiu Tsang-hei, actors Harriet Yeung (Hatou) and Joe Wong will showcase their singing with live accompaniment by young musicians from the Inheritage Philharmonic onstage.
Another musical, “Arabian Dreams”, will be performed by the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong. The work retells the story of the Arabian Nights, bringing together familiar characters such as Ali Baba, Aladdin and Sinbad the Sailor in a song-and-dance spectacular.
Fong Fong Projet d’Art’s “Our Little Tram: DingDing” features an experiential theatre production on real tram No. 120 to help people experience how the iconic vehicle has served the city. In the live show “Songs of Our Children”, presented by singer-songwriter Vicky Fung and lyricist Chow Yiu-fai of Every Life Is A Song, self-recorded voice clips of 3- to 12-year-olds will be transformed into songs accompanied by short music videos and multimedia displays to demonstrate the magic of song making and creativity.
The line-up also includes “When Lonely Meets Lucky”, a heart-warming puppetry show produced by Free-To-Play that humorously reimagines Ernest Hemingway’s novel “The Old Man and the Sea”. Shakespeare4All’s delightful show for the young “Open Wide So I Can Look Inside” shows the importance of dental care. Local author A Nong’s short children’s stories have been adapted into the original musical “The Heart of Growth”, to be performed by Musical Trio, to show Hong Kong’s treasures of humanity. The music and puppet theatre production “Butterfly, Better Fly” produced by Pure Box will take the audience to a picturesque realm of Chinese music and paintings with beautiful winged puppets. “The Gallants” by Class 7A Drama Group brings to life leading figures from Chinese classical literature.
Other attractive programmes will include:
* “BAUHAUS Magic Flute” by Zuni Icosahedron;
* “Magical Adventures of Baby Polar Bear and the 12 Zodiac Animals” by Hong Kong Dance Company;
* “Luck-quacka” by City Contemporary Dance Company; and
* International Children’s and Youth Film Carnival 2021 by the Film Programmes Office.
The IAC will also feature online programmes including “PPT@Magic Adventure” by Jumbo Kids Theatre, “Sweetyland – Our Flavour Diaries” by Make Friends With Puppet, “The Other Wise Man” by Bel Canto Singers and music videos from “Songs of Our Children”. Other extension activities include a talk, exhibitions and workshops.
Tickets will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from tomorrow onwards. For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999, or use the mobile ticketing app “My URBITX”.
For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.hkiac.gov.hk. read more