â€‹The Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairman of the Youth Development Commission (YDC), Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, officiated at the kick-off ceremony of the YDC Youth Ambassadors Programme 2019 today (February 22). The Programme aims at identifying and nurturing more young talents with commitment and passion in serving the community. One hundred Youth Ambassadors (YAs) will join a series of core skills training sessions and have chances to represent Hong Kong to participate in large-scale and international activities, with a view to enriching their understanding of Hong Kong society and public affairs. Through cultivating their skills such as teamwork, logical thinking and leadership skills, the YAs can develop their strengths and contribute to society.
 
     Addressing the ceremony, Mr Cheung said that youth development is one of the priority policy areas of the current-term Government. The Government is committed to nurturing Hong Kong youths into becoming future pillars of society with an affection for Hong Kong, a sense of national identity, an international perspective and a commitment to society. The Government set up the YDC last year to enhance policy co-ordination within the Government to enable more holistic and effective examination and discussion of issues of concern to young people, especially issues relating to youth education, career pursuit and home ownership, as well as the participation of young people in politics and their engagement in public policy discussion and debate.
 
     Mr Cheung said he hoped that the YDC Youth Ambassadors Programme organised by the YDC can identify and nurture more young talents with vision, creativity, commitment and passion to serve the community. He also expressed the hope that the YAs could seize the opportunities and actively participate in activities organised by the YDC Youth Ambassadors Programme to deepen their understanding of Hong Kong, the country and the world, upgrade their skills, broaden their horizons and prepare themselves for taking up different posts in society in future so as to contribute to the continued development of Hong Kong.
 
     The YDC Youth Ambassadors Alumni Association has also been set up. The Association provides a platform for the YAs of previous years to continue to serve the community and keep in close contact with each other. They can also help promote the Programme or other work of the YDC. As buddies of the new YAs, the YA alumni can inspire the new YAs through discussing their experience and pass the baton to their successors. Through the Association, YAs of previous years can continue their active participation in large-scale government events as well as social services activities organised by the new YAs.
 
     Also officiating at the kick-off ceremony today was the Vice-chairman of the YDC, Mr Lau Ming-wai. Other attending guests included members of the YDC, representatives from the organisations which had nominated the YAs and 51 YA alumni.
 
     In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Government recruited a group of YAs in 2017 through the Youth Ambassadors in Celebration of the Establishment of the HKSAR Programme and provided them with opportunities for training and participation in local and overseas celebration activities. In view of the remarkable results, the Home Affairs Bureau and the YDC decided to regularise the programme starting from this year and recruit 100 YAs each year. All YAs shall receive dedicated training, including core skills training, and will have visits and exchanges outside Hong Kong. Arrangements will be made for them to participate in large-scale or international events and activities organised by government bureaux and departments, such as international conferences, exhibitions and celebration events. The YAs will also be tasked to organise social service activities for the community. Those with outstanding performance will be selected to receive advanced training from acclaimed tertiary institutes outside Hong Kong.
 
     For more information on the YDC Youth Ambassadors Programme 2019, please visit the YDC's webpage (www.ydc.gov.hk/en/programmes/ambassadors).

    

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 22) investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) at an institution in Sai Kung, and hence reminded the public and management of institutions to maintain personal and environmental hygiene against AGE.

     The outbreak involves 24 male residents aged 15 to 34, as well as two male staff members, who have developed vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever since February 20. All sought medical attention. Among them, one required hospitalisation and was discharged after treatment. All patients have been in a stable condition.
 
     Officers of the CHP conducted a site visit and provided health advice to the staff of the institution concerning proper and thorough disinfection, proper disposal of vomitus, and personal and environmental hygiene. The institution has been put under medical surveillance.

     The CHP's investigations are ongoing.

     A spokesman for the CHP advised members of the public to take heed of the following preventive measures against gastroenteritis:
 

• Ensure proper personal hygiene;
• Wash hands thoroughly before handling food and eating, after using the toilet or after changing diapers;
• Wear gloves when disposing of vomitus or faecal matter, and wash hands afterwards;
• Clean and disinfect contaminated areas or items promptly and thoroughly with diluted household bleach (by adding one part of bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite to 49 parts of water). Wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Pay attention to food hygiene;
• Use separate utensils to handle raw and cooked food;
• Avoid food that is not thoroughly cooked;
• Drink boiled water; and
• Do not patronise unlicensed food premises or food stalls.

     The public may visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Health Education Hotline (2833 0111) for more information.

     The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about the work accident that happened in Quarry Bay today (February 22), in which a male worker was crushed to death by a stack of glass panels being unloaded from a lorry-mounted crane. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and has expressed its deepest sympathy to the victim's family. 
      
     The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued suspension notices to the contractors and the owners of the lorry-mounted crane involved suspending the lifting operation by lorry-mounted cranes. The contractors and the owners of the lorry-mounted crane cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risk have been taken."
      
     The spokesman added, "We will complete investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."
      
     The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, safe plant and safe systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the above provisions are liable to a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for six months.
      
     In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent recurrence of similar accidents.
      
     The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
      
     For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, chaired the third meeting of the Commission on Children today (February 22).
 
     The Commission agreed to implement a series of important tasks, including the commissioning of a Consultancy Study for developing a Central Databank on Children, the establishment of a Funding Scheme for Children's Well-being and Development, and the formulation of publicity strategy and promotional plans.
 
     It was expected that the Consultancy Study for developing a Central Databank on Children would commence in the third quarter of this year and would take about 18 months to complete. The Study would provide analysis and recommendations on the implementation framework and other related issues, during which public engagement would be conducted to collect views from stakeholders, particularly children. Specific work in the future would draw reference from the findings and recommendations arising from the Study.
 
     The Commission agreed to introduce the Funding Scheme for Children's Well-being and Development. Mr Cheung said that the Scheme would enable child concern groups and non-governmental organisations and more to seek funding for promotional and public educational projects on children-related issues and, through participation by children and stakeholders, promote the well-being and development of children. The Scheme is expected to be launched in the second quarter of this year.
 
     The Commission also formulated a publicity strategy to enhance public awareness, interest and knowledge on children-related issues and children's rights and interests. The Commission agreed to launch a series of publicity initiatives, including a large-scale territory-wide publicity campaign, production of promotional videos, organisation of seminars and various competitions for students' participation.
 
     Furthermore, the Commission set out the discussion priority and time frame for a number of issues concerning children with special needs and children protection, including early childhood intervention and development, children's health, inter-generational poverty alleviation, support for children with special education needs and ethnic minority children, prevention of student suicide, protection of children at risk, education development and academic pressure.
 
     The meeting also noted the recommendations of the consultancy study commissioned by the Architectural Services Department on the design of play space for children in venues under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department; the newly developed design/procurement guidelines to make play space more attractive, inclusive and fun to play in while meeting the safety requirements; and the strategy to promote community participation at the early design stage. The pilot scheme of the Tuen Mun Park Inclusive Playground that opened in December 2018 was cited as an example that had incorporated many recommendations from the consultancy study. Meanwhile, the meeting noted the upcoming "Pleasure and Leisure: A Glimpse of Children's Pastimes in Hong Kong" exhibition to be held at the Hong Kong Public Records Building, showcasing some play facilities and toys for children in the past.
 
    The meeting also noted that the Hong Kong Children's Hospital (HKCH) commenced clinical service in phases in December 2018. The HKCH adopted a children-centred and family-friendly design to create a better child patient experience. It focuses on complex, serious and uncommon paediatric cases requiring multidisciplinary management, providing diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation services for child patients with relevant clinical needs, from birth to 18 years of age territory-wide.

     Super Dragon Management Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for failing to pay wages and end of year payment to employees. The company and its director pleaded guilty at Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (February 22) and were fined $260,000 and $165,000 respectively, making a total of $425,000.
      
     The company failed to pay two employees' wages and end of year payment totalling about $520,000 within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and the day specified in the employment contract for paying end of year payment, violating the Employment Ordinance (EO). The director concerned was convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the wage offences.
      
     "The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages and end of year payment to employees within the time limit stipulated in the EO," a spokesman for the LD said. 
      
     "The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.