Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, visited the Immigration Department today (June 27) to learn more about the upcoming work plan of the department and meet with its management and front-line staff to exchange views on matters of concern.

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Thomas Chow, Mr Law met with the Director of Immigration, Mr Erick Tsang, and the directorate staff to get an update on their work in immigration control, visa policies, issue of travel documents, law enforcement and the like.

     Mr Law then visited the 24-hour Enterprise System Management Centre to learn more about how the department employs the Centre to monitor the operation of all computer systems for flexible deployment of its front-line manpower.

     He later proceeded to the International Co-operation Section, where he was briefed by staff of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit on the work of providing assistance to Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong.

     Before concluding his visit, Mr Law met with staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to exchange views on matters that concerned them. He expressed appreciation for colleagues’ dedication and encouraged them to continue to provide efficient and quality services to members of the public and visitors.

        

     The Education Bureau (EDB) today (June 27) launched a consultation exercise on a proposal to extend the retirement age for newly joined teachers of aided schools from 60 to 65.
      
     Views will be sought from the education sector and stakeholders on, among other things, the target group of the new retirement age policy and the necessary adjustments to the arrangements for government donation to teachers’ provident funds. The consultation period will last until September 7.
      
     The Consultation Document on Extension of Retirement Age for Newly-joined Aided School Teachers has been uploaded to the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/teacher/openconsultretireage/index.html) for public viewing.
      
     Views can be submitted by post (Education Bureau, 2/F, Trade and Industry Tower, 3 Concorde Road, Kowloon), by fax (2520 0065) or by email (consultretirementage@edb.gov.hk).
      
     The EDB will also conduct three open consultation sessions to gather feedback from the education sector and stakeholders. The details are as follows:
 
Date: July 4 (Wednesday), July 9 (Monday) and July 18 (Wednesday)
Time: 6.30pm to 8pm
Venue: Room WB, 4/F, West Block, EDB Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre, 19 Suffolk Road, Kowloon Tong
Language: Cantonese
 
     Reservations for seats at the open consultation sessions can be made on a first-come, first-served basis on the following website: http://survey2.hkedcity.net/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=92L07o7. Enquiries about the open consultation sessions can be made by calling the EDB on 3467 8281 or 3467 8282. read more

Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Happy Valley today (June 27). The arrangements will come into effect one and a half hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting. … read more

     Following is a question by the Hon Regina Ip and a reply by the Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, in the Legislative Council today (June 27): Question:      In recent years, there have been a nu… read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, at a media briefing after attending the Legislative Council meeting this afternoon (June 27): 

Reporter: Mr Lee, gun crimes are very rare in Hong Kong. Should Hong Kong people be concerned about this latest incident? Do you think that the shooting case yesterday shows we need to review the regulations of import and control of firearms?

Secretary for Security: I pay serious attention to the homicide case yesterday, in which the culprit used a genuine firearm. The Police will do a very thorough and serious investigation into the case. I have also asked the Police to look at the smuggling of the firearms into Hong Kong and see whether there are things we need to follow up. I must emphasise that in regard to the firearms control of Hong Kong, the laws are strict. Anybody who wants to possess a gun, he must get the approval from the Commissioner of Police and a license in which the conditions including the use and storage of the firearms are very clearly specified. In regard to smuggling of firearms by person or by goods, both the Immigration Department’s officers and customs officers have been taking strong enforcement actions. So collectively, the law enforcement agencies exercise strict controls on the inflow of firearms into Hong Kong.
 
     Hong Kong’s crime rate is low. In 2017, the crime rate was the lowest in 46 years. Robbery cases had gone down by 35 per cent in 2017, and there was no genuine firearms robbery last year. So the Hong Kong crime situation is stable. The law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong will work hard to ensure that we remain a safe city in which the threat of firearms is prevented.

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