The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, visited Yau Tsim Mong District today (August 28) to learn more about the kindergarten learning activities for non-Chinese speaking (NCS) children and a local historic building revitalisation project. He also exchanged views with local District Council members.
 
     Accompanied by the Yau Tsim Mong District Council (YTMDC) Chairman, Mr Chris Ip; the YTMDC Vice Chairlady, Ms Wong Shu-ming; and the District Officer (Yau Tsim Mong), Mrs Laura Aron, Mr Yeung first went to Lui Seng Chun at Lai Chi Kok Road, Mong Kok. Among the first batch of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme launched in 2008, the Grade I historic building was turned into a Chinese medical healthcare centre. Mr Yeung was briefed by representatives of the Hong Kong Baptist University on the project and viewed the architectural features of the historic building as well as its Chinese medicine clinic and dispensary.
 
     Afterwards, Mr Yeung called on the YTMDC to exchange views with members on education and other district issues.
 
     Mr Yeung then visited Western Pacific Kindergarten at Waterloo Road, Yau Ma Tei. At the kindergarten, in which over 90 per cent of students come from NCS families, Mr Yeung listened to an introduction on the support for NCS children by the school management and the views on education services shared by parents. He also viewed learning activities for the students.
 
     Under the quality kindergarten education policy, the Education Bureau has stepped up professional development programmes for teachers and school-based professional support to enhance the services for NCS students in kindergartens. In addition, kindergartens admitting eight or more NCS students can have additional funding for implementing related support measures, such as employing additional teachers.
 
     The kindergarten has arranged two teachers for each class in which an ethnic minority English teacher and a local Chinese teacher work together to enhance students' Chinese and English proficiency through bilingual teaching. "Situated learning" is also adopted to help children learn about and integrate into community life in a joyful atmosphere. During the visit, Mr Yeung was invited to join a bus ride game and share the fun of experiential learning by playing the role of a bus driver to pick up student passengers for a bus journey.
 
     The kindergarten and the parents have established effective communication channels through organising parents' days and activities such as picnics, a reading scheme and a mini sports day for parents and children as well as seminars and workshops to improve mutual understanding and co-operation.
 
     Mr Yeung thanked the kindergarten for providing holistic support for NCS children. He said that the Government has earmarked $500 million in the 2018-19 Budget for strengthening the support services for ethnic minorities. This includes enhancing support for NCS students in learning Chinese language as well as employment and training opportunities, with a view to helping them integrate into the community and realise their potential.
 

        

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, at a media session in Beijing today (August 28) :
 
Reporter: Minister, concerning the issue of the Hong Kong National Party, was it raised in the meeting or was it raised during your three-day stay here? And did the state leader instruct you how to deal with the Party, how to deal with the activists? Are you going to take their words in consideration? And also, concerning members of Demosisto, are you going to look into the case? Do you think the treatment on the Mainland was appropriate?
 
Secretary for Security: First of all, I was met by the leader of the Mainland. When the Vice-Premier talked to the Disciplined Services Cultural Exchange Delegation, in addition to his recognition of the work of the disciplined services, he explained how important it is for the disciplined services to correctly understand the Basic Law and also act in accordance with the laws in Hong Kong. He has mentioned that there would be no tolerance of any attempt to threaten the sovereignty of the state, and he did mention that in connection with any independence advocacy, the Security Bureau should deal with it in accordance with the laws.
 
Reporter: And the members of Demosisto?
 
Secretary for Security: Anybody who has anything that they want to seek help on or any matters they want to raise to the Government to assist, it is important that the responsible persons approach the department concerned to provide information so that the department concerned can act in accordance with the information provided and in accordance with the special circumstances of the case.
 
 (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

  

     The Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs (SUCCESS) of the Trade and Industry Department will hold a seminar entitled "Utilising Government Funding: Riding Trends and Seizing Market Opportunities" on September 14 (Friday).

     The Government has implemented a series of enhancement measures for funding schemes since August 1 to assist enterprises, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in riding trends and seizing market opportunities in light of the signing of a Free Trade Agreement between Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the planning of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the current international trading environment. The enhancement measures include extending the geographical scope of the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) from the Mainland to ASEAN countries; and increasing the cumulative funding ceiling for enterprises under the BUD Fund and the SME Export Marketing Fund. This seminar will introduce the details of the enhancement measures and invite representatives from the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation to introduce their support measures and services for SMEs.

     The seminar will be held at 2.30pm in the Lecture Theatre, G/F, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay (MTR Tin Hau Station, Exit B). The seminar will be conducted in Cantonese. Admission is free.

     Those interested are invited to register with SUCCESS by September 13 (Thursday). Please visit the SUCCESS website (www.success.tid.gov.hk/tid/eng/activity/activity.jsp) for details of the seminar and online registration. The registration form can also be downloaded from the SUCCESS website. Please send the completed registration form to SUCCESS by fax (2391 7375). Due to limited seating capacity, seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

     For enquiries, please call 3403 6111.

     The New Vision Arts Festival will be held from October 19 to November 18, featuring pioneering shows by overseas and local performing groups. An early bird discount of 30 per cent off all full-price tickets for selected programmes will end on September 5. Members of the public should act fast to enjoy the best discount.
 
     The selected programmes are:
 
* Opening programme "Tree of Codes"
* Underwater concert "AquaSonic"
* Tan Dun's new work "Buddha Passion"
* Dance theatre show "Swan Lake/Loch na hEala"
* Composer Du Yun's Pulitzer Prize for Music-winning "Angel's Bone"
* Director Thomas Richards' immersive theatre work "The Living Room"
* Thomas Richards' "The Underground: A Response to Dostoevsky"
* Cross-cultural dialogue between Thai royal Khon dance and street hip-pop in "Negotiation"
* Local artist Daniel Yeung's experimental multimedia lion dance theatre work "Guan Yu's Ride of 1,000 Miles"
* Internationally renowned British lighting designer Michael Hulls' "LightSpace"
 
     Tickets are available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999.
 
     The New Vision Arts Festival is organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. For programme enquiries, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.newvisionfestival.gov.hk.

        

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 28) that the Environmental Protection Department has classified the water quality at Anglers' Beach in Tsuen Wan District as Grade 4, which means the beach is not suitable for swimming. The red flag has been hoisted. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach until further notice.