â€‹The National People's Congress (NPC) will deliberate a draft Decision for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security (the Decision).

     The Acting Director of Immigration, Mr Au Ka-wang, supports the Decision and indicated that the Immigration Department (ImmD) will, by adhering to all applicable laws and current immigration policies, continue to safeguard Hong Kong and prevent acts that endanger national security. Mr Au strongly condemned the acts of the rioters and advocates of "Hong Kong independence", and expressed his full support to the Police to strictly enforce the law.

     Mr Au said that the Decision helps to safeguard national and the HKSAR's security. Under the leadership of the Security Bureau, the ImmD will continue to safeguard Hong Kong, the country's southern gateway to the world, and work with other law enforcement agencies to combat activities that undermine national security in order to maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

     The ImmD fully supports the NPC's draft Decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to ensure Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, and allow Hong Kong to be back on track and restore its glory.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, at a media session after attending a special meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Education today (May 25):
 
Reporter: Could I ask, because you said the question was too complicated, that (since) most students, or at least around 60 per cent, could answer correctly that there was more harm than good brought to China by Japan, are you still saying that the correct argument is that this is too difficult a question for DSE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education) students?
 
Secretary for Education: My colleagues say it is a very difficult question in the sense that the information provided, the two paragraphs or the two pieces of information provided are very complicated in nature. There are a lot of rationales behind, some saying they are good and some saying they are bad, and there are also some underlying reasons for analysis of why the Japanese did these things at that point in time. So if we ask Secondary Six students to analyse these two pieces of information within a short period of time, and normally these two pieces of information will not be taught in a normal lesson of a school, then it will be very difficult for them to give a very meaningful analysis.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, chaired the seventh meeting of the Commission on Children today (May 25). At the meeting, members were briefed on the cross-departmental measures taken to address the problem of juvenile gangs and the support measures for children and their families during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. Members also discussed the progress and outlook of the Commission's work.

     The Commission noted the recent increase in the number of juveniles and young persons arrested for criminal offences and the cross-departmental measures taken by the Education Bureau, the Police and the Social Welfare Department to address the problem of juvenile gangs. Members discussed room for improvements in prevention, intervention and rehabilitation services.

     In addition, members were briefed on the Government's anti-epidemic efforts and support measures for children and their families (especially those with children with special needs) amid disruption of child care services and class suspensions owing to the epidemic.

     The meeting also reviewed the Commission's work since its establishment in June 2018, and discussed work priorities in the coming two years.

     The Commission has been focusing on important children-related policies and programmes, and has been monitoring their implementation, including regularising and enhancing rehabilitation service for pre-school children, strengthening the long-term development of child care services, introducing new concepts into play areas for children, promoting children's mental health and catering for the education needs of ethnic minority children.

     Moreover, a consultancy study on the feasibility of developing a central databank on children is ongoing. The consultant will collect and consolidate relevant data and explore the feasibility of formulating policy directions and enhancing services for the well-being of children.

     The Commission has also been committed to promoting the importance of children's well-being and development. A territory-wide "Caring for Our Kids" Campaign was launched in November 2019, including a cross-discipline stakeholder engagement session followed by educational and publicity activities. In 2020-21, the campaign will focus on promoting a healthy life of children as well as respecting and better understanding their thoughts and feelings.

     The Funding Scheme for Children's Well-being and Development launched in April 2019 met with an enthusiastic response and received over 60 applications from non-governmental organisations, schools and child concern groups on promotional and public educational projects for children, parents and teachers. The second round of the Scheme is now open for applications until end-July 2020.

     A man who went missing in Cheung Sha Wan has been located.

     Kwong Wai-keung, aged 61, went missing after he left his elderly home on Un Chau Street in the small hours on April 30. Staff of the elderly home made a report to Police on the same day.

     The man was located on Wu Chui Road, Castle Peak on May 23 evening. He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

     The Judiciary announced today (May 25) that the registries and accounts offices of the Family Court and the Small Claims Tribunal will return to normal operation from May 27 (Wednesday).

     All registry business for the above court and tribunal will be conducted within the normal operating hours, i.e. from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm (Monday to Friday, except public holidays). These will include the search and inspection of case files, Index and Certificate of Decree Absolute at the registry of the Family Court.

     The special ticketing and triage systems for court users of the Family Court and Small Claims Tribunal will cease from May 27. Court users should go directly to the relevant registries or accounts offices for services.

     Despite the cessation of the special ticketing and triage arrangements, the Judiciary will continue to put in place appropriate preventive measures to protect the health of all people who enter and remain in judiciary premises. These measures include requiring all people entering Judiciary premises to undergo body temperature checks and wear surgical masks. To maintain social distancing, capacity limits will remain in force for areas such as court registries and accounts offices to avoid crowding. Where appropriate, queuing and other crowd management arrangements will continue to be in place to regulate the people flow. Court users are advised to check the updated information on the Judiciary website and follow the advice of the Judiciary staff and security personnel when they attend for court business.

     For general enquiries, the following hotlines are operated from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm (Monday to Friday, except public holidays):
 
• General Information: 2869 0869
• Court of Final Appeal: 2123 0123
• High Court: 2523 2212
• Probate: 2840 1683
• District Court: 2845 5696
• Family Court: 2840 1218
• Lands Tribunal: 2771 3034
• Labour Tribunal: 2625 0020
• Small Claims Tribunal: 2877 4068
• Magistrates' Courts: 2677 8373
• Bailiff Section: 2802 7510
• Court Language Section: 2388 1364

     The Judiciary will continue to post updated information, including Daily Cause Lists, all arrangements in relation to Judiciary business and advice to court users, on the Judiciary website (www.judiciary.hk). Court users are advised to check the website for updated information as necessary.