Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat: The Legislative Council Subcommittee on Matters Relating to the Development of Smart City visited Fairview Park in Yuen Long today (January 20) to ob… read more
The Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairperson of the Commission on Children (CoC), Mr Chan Kwok-ki, hosted the Launching Ceremony of the Child Protection Campaign at Victoria House today (January 20). The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance will come into effect on January 20 next year. The event marked the one-year countdown to the commencement of the Ordinance and demonstrated the Government’s determination to team up with relevant professional sectors and members of society to safeguard the well-being of children, and promote the message of “child protection is the responsibility of all” to members of the public.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr Chan said that the healthy growth, development and well-being of children rely not only on family nurturing and school education, but also on the collaborative efforts of the Government and all sectors of society. The Legislative Council passed the Ordinance in July last year, marking an important milestone of Hong Kong’s efforts on child protection. Upon the commencement of the Ordinance, specified professionals in the social welfare, education and healthcare sectors are required to report serious child abuse cases for the purpose of early identification and intervention, thereby strengthening the efforts of child protection.
Mr Chan added that to complement the commencement of the Ordinance, the Government is actively preparing, together with the sectors, for the implementation of the mandatory reporting regime. These include the provision of training for mandated reporters, formulation of the Mandated Reporter Guide, an increase of emergency places for residential child care, and enhancement of professional support for child abuse victims and their families with a view to ensuring that the various support measures are properly put in place upon the commencement of the Ordinance. That way, the mandated reporters can discharge their statutory duties and children and families in need can receive appropriate and timely care. At the same time, the Government will strengthen the prevention of child abuse at the source. The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address the setting up of four Community Parents and Children Centres on a pilot basis with a view to commencing operations progressively starting from 2026. These centres will promote parent-child interaction through play-based services, instil positive parenting skills in parents, render support for families with parenting needs, and refer families in need to various appropriate services of the Government and the community.
Following the launch of the Child Protection Campaign today, the Government will roll out a series of activities in phases. These include hosting seminars for relevant professions, promulgating the Mandated Reporter Guide and launching Module 2 of the Child Protection Online Training. The CoC will also hold public and stakeholder engagement activities. Mr Chan urged professionals and all sectors of society to actively support and participate in promoting the mandatory reporting regime for child abuse and the messages for child protection, and work closely with the Government to create a comprehensive and effective safety net for children.
Mr Chan also officiated at a pledging ceremony and witnessed children present potted seedlings to professionals from 25 specified categories including those in the social welfare, education, and healthcare sectors. This symbolised the commitment of the professionals to protect children and promote their healthy and happy growth. Attendees joining the launching ceremony and the pledging session included the Vice-chairperson of the CoC and Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Commissioner of Police, Mr Siu Chak-yee; the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee; the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung; the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai; the Deputy Director of Social Welfare (Services), Mr Alex Wong; and the Consultant Community Medicine (Family and Student Health) of the Department of Health, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan.
The launching ceremony was one of the stakeholder engagement activities of the CoC, with around 100 participants present, including children, Legislative Council Members, professionals from the social welfare, education, and healthcare sectors, as well as stakeholders closely related to children’s welfare. The Convenor and Vice-convenor of the Working Group on Child Protection of the CoC, Ms Kathy Chung and Dr Rizwan Ullah respectively, together with two children, provided a briefing at the ceremony on the Child Protection Campaign, the key points of the Ordinance and relevant support measures, as well as the work on child protection of the CoC.
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with Vice-president of the Supreme People’s Court Mr Mao Zhonghua today (January 20) to exchange views on legal work and exchanges between legal personnel of Hong Kong and the Mainland. Also attending the meeting were the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, and the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan.
Mr Lee welcomed Mr Mao’s visit to Hong Kong with his delegation to attend the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year 2025. He expressed his gratitude to the Supreme People’s Court for its active support of the Department of Justice, including establishing an extensive, effective and convenient mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters, actively promoting the implementation of the rule of law in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and supporting Hong Kong to establish itself as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia‑Pacific region.
Mr Lee said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to actively promote the measures of “allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to adopt Hong Kong law” and “allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to choose for arbitration to be seated in Hong Kong”. This is to help stakeholders understand and make full use of the new measures, encourage more foreign invested enterprises to use Hong Kong as a springboard to tap into the Greater Bay Area, and contribute to the construction of a market-oriented and internationalised business environment in the Greater Bay Area.
Mr Lee noted that Hong Kong is a contributor to the resolution of international commercial disputes and is one of the top three most-preferred seats for arbitration worldwide. He is pleased that Hong Kong will achieve greater contributions to the commercial disputes resolution very soon, with the Elaboration of the Convention on the Establishment of The International Organization for Mediation to be signed in Hong Kong this year. The International Organization for Mediation will provide an alternative way to settle international disputes in a friendly, flexible, economical and efficient manner, and Hong Kong will be developed as the capital for international mediation, which echoes the city’s status as an international arbitration hub, further strengthening the city’s position as a regional centre for resolving commercial disputes.
The Health Bureau (HHB) announced today (January 20) that the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme) introduces dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services under the district health network at over … read more