The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 17) that the arena of the Hong Kong Velodrome in Sai Kung District has been reopened. The arena was temporarily closed earlier on due to clearance and urgent repair works after the passage of the tropical cyclone.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, officiated at the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) International Conference 2018 today (September 17). As one of the major events in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the HKQF, the two-day Conference is being attended by over 200 representatives from around the world including government officials, Qualifications Framework (QF) and quality assurance experts, academics, professionals in vocational and professional education and training (VPET) and practitioners.

     The Conference has been organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) and co-organised by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, with the support of the European Commission, the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership, Quality and Qualifications Ireland and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. Under the theme "QF in the Next Decade: Quality, Progression and Recognition", the Conference provides a platform for participants to explore global trends and issues including developing QFs, promoting dialogues among places with advanced QF systems, as well as examining the role of QFs in evolving vocational and education training systems. 

     Delivering a keynote speech on "HKQF: Retrospect and Prospect", the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that over the last decade the EDB has built a solid infrastructure for a quality qualifications system that supports progression and fosters recognition. More and more organisations, institutions and employers recognise the importance of the HKQF and adopt it in their recruitment, training, promotion and student admission, he added.

     He said that the EDB will focus on the wider application of the HKQF to enhance recognition of qualifications in different industries and enable learners' pursuit of a wide array of quality-assured pathways for further studies and career development. The development of the HKQF will augment the Government's initiative to step up promotion for vocational and professional education and training.

     The Conference includes overseas experts from New Zealand, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as local academics, industry leaders and senior government officials who have gathered to share their views and ideas. It is being held at the Central Government Offices today and tomorrow (September 18).

     The EDB established the HKQF in 2008 to provide a platform to encourage and facilitate lifelong learning, with a view to enhancing the capability and competitiveness of the workforce in Hong Kong. The HKQF defines clear and objective standards applicable to qualifications in the academic, vocational, professional and continuing education sectors; assures the quality of qualifications and the associated learning programmes available to learners; and assures relevancy of learning to industry needs. The EDB organises QF international conferences from time to time to establish and strengthen collaboration with QF authorities of other places.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, after attending the opening ceremony of Hong Kong Qualifications Framework International Conference 2018 today (September 17):
 
Reporter: When do you think it's safe to resume the schools? How do you respond to complaints from parents saying there are difficulties in arranging child care when school is suspended, and will you consider to partially open schools again?

Secretary for Education: Firstly, I must say that it's an exceptionally serious typhoon that we had experienced in the past two days. And the measure now is we have suspended classes but we have asked schools to remain open for the students whose parents who may not be able to find someone to look after their kids at home. So, that practice would facilitate those parents who need to go back to work, for example, so that their kids would not be left unattended.
 
Reporter: When can the schools be re-opened? Are some schools' structures damaged?
 
Secretary for Education: We are hoping that schools could re-open as soon as possible. But we also need the schools to have an assessment of their own conditions. We also need to have an overall assessment on the territory as a whole before we could decide when the schools will be opened.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

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     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 17) that due to urgent clearance work after the typhoon and maintenance of shark prevention nets, all beaches in Southern, Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Islands and Sai Kung Districts are temporarily closed until further notice. Red flags have been hoisted at the beaches. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beaches.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

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     The Civil Engineering and Development Department today (September 17) announced that as the Strong Wind Signal No.3 has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Mui Wo Temporary Public Fill Reception Facility has been closed until further notice.