The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about the work accident that happened on Stonecutters Island in the afternoon yesterday (January 12), in which a male worker while clearing debris fell through a floor opening from second floor to ground floor of a building under construction. The worker was certified dead in hospital. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker in the accident and expresses 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. We have issued suspension notices to the contractors involved to suspend the work activities at the place of work concerned. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risks 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 Factories and Industrial Undertakings 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 $500,000 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 Labour Department (LD) is investigating a fatal work accident that occurred on Stonecutters Island this afternoon (January 12), in which a worker died.

     The LD immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident, and is now conducting an investigation to look into its cause.

     Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at Diocesan Boys' School 150th Anniversary Inauguration Ceremony today (January 12):
 
Archbishop Kwong (School Supervisor of Diocesan Boys' School, Archbishop Paul Kwong) , Headmaster Cheng (Headmaster of Diocesan Boys' School, Mr Ronnie Cheng), guests, teachers, students, parents,
 
     ​Good evening.
 
     It gives me great pleasure to be here today in honour of the Diocesan Boys' School (DBS) and its 150th anniversary. Incidentally, I attended my alma mater St Frances' Canossian College's also 150th anniversary celebrations last month. This reminds me that Hong Kong is so very blessed by having these very fine, well-established schools, whether they are Catholic or Anglican, girls or boys schools. They have given Hong Kong the talents that have brought our City to where she is today.
 
     Over the past century and a half, DBS has been educating Hong Kong youth, instilling in them an abiding love of learning, strength of character and spiritual guidance. Hong Kong is much the better, much the richer, thanks to this school.
 
     A few of you may remember, and Headmaster Cheng has just reminded you all, the last time I spoke here. It was April 2009, almost a decade ago. I was then, in my capacity as Secretary for Development, taking part in a Tree Planting Day, signifying perhaps that while it takes a decade to grow a tree, it requires a century to nurture talents, in a holistic way. It was, I remember, a rainy day with an amber rainstorm signal. Still, the torrential rain did not deter us from planting a bauhinia tree at the side of the sports field. I'm told that the tree that we planted is now some five metres in height and already yielding the brilliant blossoms that are a hallmark of the tree. In good time, it will continue to grow and mature, providing shade and serenity for all of us who turn to it.
 
     DBS's beginnings were similarly modest, a simple cement structure planted in a rice paddy field. But blessed with abundant time and faithful nurturing, the School has flourished. Over the years and the decades, thanks to visionary management, dedicated staff and supportive parents, the School has graduated generation upon generation of students. They, in turn, have become illustrious alumni, splendidly serving both the school and Hong Kong, including serveral former and current members of the Legislative Council, my senior civil service colleagues and many others.
 
     Today, DBS continues to pursue academic excellence. No less important, it places equal emphasis on imparting such essential values as integrity and industriousness, discipline, devotion and gratitude. The School, I'm pleased to add, embraces whole-person education, providing its students with wide-ranging opportunities in sports, music, arts, as well as a social services programme and much more.
 
     My Government believes in whole-person education. Education must do more than transfer of knowledge or skills. It has to give our young people broad-based abilities and the essential adaptability to pursue fulfilling careers, and lives, and uninhibited creativity to envision the future.
 
     Since taking office in July 2017, quality education is placed very high on my Government's agenda. Apart from injecting new resources into education, to the tune of $8.3 billion recurrent expenditure by now, task forces led by professionals have been established to look at various aspects of our education system. One task force is assisting the Government in refining the school curriculum at both the primary and secondary levels. Meanwhile, we are doing everything possible to ease stress among students, to engage their creativity and curiosity and to instill in them a love for life-long learning.
 
     In the coming school year, in response to the aspirations of teachers, we will implement an all-graduate teaching force policy in one go in public-sector primary and secondary schools. The point, of course, is to attract and retain talented teachers – professionals who can make a difference. A recurrent Life-wide Learning Grant will also be provided to encourage public-sector schools to organise more out-of-classroom, experiential-learning activities. DBS and other Direct Subsidy Scheme schools will benefit from these new initiatives through a unit subsidy. I have no doubt that you will make optimum use of the new resources, and the opportunities they offer the School and your students.
 
     Again, my congratulations to Diocesan Boys’ School, the School Committee, the principal and teachers for your dedicated work, for continuing a tradition of quality education that now spans 150 remarkable years. I wish the School and every one of you here all the best in the years ahead. Thank you very much.
 

      

     The Government held the Career Fair 2019 under the Pilot Programme to Enhance Talent Training for the Asset and Wealth Management Sector (WAM Pilot Programme) this afternoon (January 12). The Career Fair is an annual industry promotion event, with the aim of providing an opportunity for undergraduate students to learn more about the asset and wealth management (WAM) sector through exchanges with industry practitioners and to obtain information about the upcoming Summer Internship Programme (SIP).

     The theme of this year's Career Fair was "Leaping Ahead". It featured a briefing on the SIP in 2019, sharing sessions by industry practitioners, and a CV Clinic. During the sharing sessions, nine experienced practitioners offered their insights on the future developments and job prospects and shared their valuable experience in the WAM sector. Moreover, through participating in the CV Clinic, students could obtain professional advice on curriculum vitae writing from the industry practitioners.

     A number of exhibitors from local and international WAM companies and industry associations were also present to introduce to students the different functional roles and career paths of the sector.

     A government spokesperson said, "As a premier international asset and wealth management hub, Hong Kong has a fast-growing WAM sector within the local financial services industry. The Career Fair can help enhance students' understanding of the sector, and attract new blood to the industry. We strongly encourage eligible university students who are interested in joining the WAM sector to apply for the Summer Internship Programme in 2019 to obtain internship experience during the summer vacation."

     The SIP, held annually throughout the WAM Pilot Programme, provides a subsidy for employers to offer summer internship positions in the WAM sector to university students. This year, around 100 internship positions from more than 20 firms covering a wide range of functional roles in the sector will be available. Interested university students may apply for these internship openings from January 14 to 27. Details about the SIP, including the eligibility criteria and the application process, can be found at www.wamtalent.org.hk/eng/e-application-information.html. 

     The Government launched the WAM Pilot Programme in August 2016. The objectives are to expand the talent pool of the WAM sector, and enhance the professional competency of the WAM practitioners, thereby facilitating the sustainable development of the sector. Initiatives under the WAM Pilot Programme include promotion and education, the SIP, and a financial incentive scheme for the professional training of in-service practitioners in the financial services industry.

     Police today (January 12) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tsing Yi.

     Ho Kam-hung, aged 80, went missing after he was last seen at Tsing Yi Estate yesterday (January 11) afternoon. His family made a report to Police on the same day.

     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 46 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a khaki long-sleeved shirt, black trousers and black shoes.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1174 or 9143 9685 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.