Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) said today (April 28) that no additional case of measles infection has been recorded as at 4pm today.        Regarding measles control… read more

     Jointly organised by the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB), the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education (CPCE) and the Working Group on Local Community under the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee the Basic Law Quiz Competition Final cum Prize Presentation Ceremony was held today (April 28).
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, said that upon the resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) established the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in accordance with the provisions of Article 31 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China. The Constitution provides a basis for the Basic Law which prescribes the systems to be practised in the HKSAR, in order to ensure the implementation of the basic policies of the PRC regarding Hong Kong, i.e. “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy. The Basic Law also upholds national unity and territorial integrity and maintains the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
 
     He added that in view of the importance of the Constitution and the Basic Law to Hong Kong, bureaux and departments of the HKSAR Government have been dedicated to enhancing public understanding of the Constitution and the Basic Law. He said that the HKSAR Government would continue the promotion of the Basic Law through different channels and activities to help the public to have a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the Basic Law from different angles. He said he also hoped that different sectors could make use of the advantages of the “two-systems” on the basis of “one-country” to move towards a brighter future for Hong Kong.
 
     The quiz competition covered all chapters of the Basic Law, its development and the relationship between the Constitution and the Basic Law. Divided into Family, Senior Primary School, Secondary School and Open categories, participants first answered questions about the Basic Law online, or completed question sheets published by the organisers and distributed to schools and community organisations. Those with the highest scores in each category were selected by ballot to attend the final. They were then selected from each category on the spot for question sessions to compete for the champion and first- and second runner-up prizes. The quiz competition this year received an overwhelming response, attracting over 23 000 participants.
           
     To tie in with the quiz competition, the organisers hosted two seminars from January to February this year to introduce to secondary school teachers and students the development and practice of the Basic Law, as well as the relationship between the Constitution and the Basic Law.
 
     The HAB has been working closely with the CPCE to promote the Constitution and the Basic Law at the community level through various channels, including publications for young people and thematic exhibitions and interactive games about the Basic Law in the Civic Education Resource Centre. Sponsorship is also granted through the Community Participation Scheme and the Co-operation Scheme with District Councils every year to support civic education activities to be held in the community, including promotional activities for the Constitution and the Basic Law.

    

     The Hong Kong Police Force today (April 28) held the Junior Police Call 45th Anniversary Open Day launching ceremony at JPC@Pat Heung.      Officiating at the ceremony, the Chief Secretary for Administration, … read more

     To tie in with 4.23 World Book Day, the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department organises the 4.23 World Book Day Creative Competition annually. The prize presentation ceremony this year was held at the Hong Kong Central Library today (April 28) to recognise the outstanding performance of the participants.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li, said that this year’s Competition, carrying the theme “Let’s Share the Joy of Reading”, expected that participating students could enrich their lives, through the joy of reading and writing, by making a habit of reading.
 
     She noted that this year’s competition received an overwhelming response, with over 1 500 entries from more than 240 schools.
 
     The competition consisted of four categories: junior primary students designed book covers to show their beloved book or a chapter of it; senior primary students wrote letters to teachers, family members or friends to describe their favourite printed or electronic book that touched them emotionally; junior secondary students wrote essays on the topic “Reading makes me …” to introduce a printed or electronic book and share their views; and senior secondary students wrote essays illustrating their experience of reading and describing their insights on the theme “One’s Journey in Reading”.
 
     Winning entries were selected from each category, with 25 chosen from junior primary, 15 from senior primary Chinese, 16 from junior secondary Chinese, 12 from senior secondary Chinese, eight each from senior primary English and junior secondary English, and five from senior secondary English.
 
     The winning students were each awarded a $500 book coupon, a medal and a certificate. A trophy will also be awarded to the school of each winner.
 
     Winning entries from the competition will be on display at the Exhibition Gallery of the Hong Kong Central Library from tomorrow (April 29) to May 13, followed by a roving exhibition at 20 public libraries and the Hong Kong Book Fair. The winning entries will also be uploaded to www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/extension-activities/event-category/23428/4-23-world-book-day.
 
     This creative competition is part of the ongoing Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao library collaboration and exchange programme. Shenzhen Library, Shenzhen Children’s Library, the Sun Yat-Sen Library of Guangdong Province and Macao Public Library have also organised competitions under the same theme. The winning entries will be displayed in their respective libraries.
 
     Other guests attending the presentation ceremony today included the President of the Hong Kong Teacher-Librarians’ Association, Ms Wong Ngai-kuen; the Curriculum Development Officer of the Curriculum Development Institute, Education Bureau, Mr Wong Kin-fung; and the Reading Promotion Project Leaders of the Shenzhen Children’s Library, Ms Yin Jiani and Mr Zhong Fukang.
 
     The launching ceremony of “Fun Reading at Hong Kong Public Transportation” was also held at Whitty Street Tram Depot in Sai Wan today. This is an outreach paired reading activity jointly organised by the HKPL and Hapischool Reading Club. The Assistant Director (Libraries and Development) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Miss Rochelle Lau, officiated at the ceremony. Other officiating guests included the Co-Founder of Hapischool Reading Club, Mr Kenny Or; the Manager of Hong Kong Trams Store, Mr Eric Lee; and artiste Moses Chan.
 
     The first tram-themed session was held immediately after the launching ceremony. After boarding a tram, parents and children began their fun reading journey on an iconic type of Hong Kong transport. “Fun Reading at Hong Kong Public Transportation” aims to take participants beyond libraries to read picture books and learn more about the city.
 
     The upcoming sessions will visit a bus depot and the MTR Safety Experience zone as well as sail on the Dukling. Parents and kids are welcome to join the reading journey. Registration can be done online on www.hkpl.gov.hk/tc/extension-activities/event-category/150712/fun-reading-at-hong-kong-public-transportation. Seats are limited and interested families are advised to note the registration periods.
 
     Details of the fun-packed activities are available on the HKPL’s website (www.hkpl.gov.hk) and its newly launched “Reading is Joyful” Facebook page (www.facebook.com/readingisjoyful) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/readingisjoyful).

            

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 27) seized about 400 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1.1 million and a duty potential of about $800,000 in Kowloon Bay.
 
     Acting on information, Customs officers searched a truck at a logistics site in Kowloon Bay yesterday and found the suspected illicit cigarettes mix-loaded with other goods onboard the truck in 50 carton boxes.
 
     The 53-year-old male driver was arrested and the truck was detained. Investigation is ongoing.
 
     Smuggling is a serious offence.  Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to the Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).