The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:

     The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded "M" Mark status to 2018 CCB (Asia) Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races which will be held from June 22 to 24.

     The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Karl Kwok, said today (Jun 15) that this event, like all "M" Mark events, will add colour and vibrancy to Hong Kong and help attract more visitors.

     "'M' Mark events showcase Hong Kong's capability to host world-class sports events and reinforce its position as the events capital of Asia," Mr Kwok said.

     "'M' Mark events also help generate economic benefits for Hong Kong by attracting tourists. They also instil a sustainable sporting culture in the community, and help foster a sense of pride and social cohesion," he added.

    The "M" Mark System was launched in 2004 to help local national sports associations organise more major sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be granted "M" Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some of the event organisers.

     The number of recognised "M" Mark events increased from four in 2005 to 13 in 2017. So far, around $117.3 million has been approved to support recognised "M" Mark events.

     For details of other "M" Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk. "M" Mark applications for smartphone users are available for downloading from iTunes as well as Google Play.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (June 15) said that 12 of its general out-patient clinics (see table below) will provide services in the coming Tuen Ng Festival holiday on Monday (June 18). Members of the public are reminded to make advance booking through the telephone system as usual for an appointment.

      The spokesperson further remarked that the Accident & Emergency (A&E) Departments in public hospitals will also operate as usual during the holiday to serve the patients with urgent medical needs. The established triage system will ensure priority treatment for critical and emergency patients according to their clinical conditions.

     "The queuing time is expected to be longer for semi-urgent and non-urgent patients as there may be more patients attending A&E departments during the holiday," the spokesperson appeals to the public for understanding and cooperation while waiting for consultations. Non-urgent patients are advised to consider seeking consultations at general out-patient clinics, private doctors or the 24-hour clinics of private hospitals.

     To help find the appropriate family medicine doctor and related clinic service of their choice, members of the public are welcome to call the HA Infoline (2882 4866) for information on holiday general out-patient clinic service, or to browse the Primary Care Directory of Department of Health at www.pcdirectory.gov.hk, or download the mobile App of "Primary Care Directory".
 
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Public Holiday Clinics
 

 
Consultation Hours:
9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm

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 (June 15) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; Silverstrand Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Government started the recruitment under the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth today (June 15).  The application period will close on July 16.
 
     Chief Secretary for Administration cum Chairman of the Youth Development Commission Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said, "This term of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government strives to do our best in youth development work by addressing their concerns about education, career pursuit and home ownership, and encouraging their participation in politics as well as public policy discussion and debate. These include giving young people more opportunities to participate in public affairs so that the Government can better understand their views and suggestions and take them into account.
 
     Since last year, we have started to appoint young people to become members of specified boards and committees by self-recommendation through the Pilot Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth.  The target is to increase the overall ratio of youth members (i.e. persons who are aged between 18 and 35) on government boards and committees from the current 8.6 per cent to 15 per cent within the duration of the current-term Government."
 
     A spokesman for the Home Affairs Bureau said, "in the light of the overwhelming response to the Pilot Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth launched last October, the Government will regularise the scheme and rename it as Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth (MSSY).  The scheme will be extended to more boards and committees which cover a wide spectrum of policy areas.  It will be rolled out twice every year to provide more opportunities for young people to participate in policy discussion."
      
     The first phase of MSSY opened for application today. The following ten committees will each offer two seats under MSSY –

1. Lantau Development Advisory Committee;
2. Council for Sustainable Development;
3. Advisory Committee on Enhancing Self-Reliance Through District Partnership Programme;
4. Transport Advisory Committee;
5. Community Investment and Inclusion Fund Committee;
6. Committee on Community Support for Rehabilitated Offenders;
7. Community Sports Committee;
8. Joint Committee on Student Finance;
9. Food Wise Hong Kong Steering Committee; and
10. Advisory Committee of the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged.

     "Young people aged between 18 and 35 on July 16, 2018, i.e. the close of application, are invited to self-nominate to become members of the ten specified committees,” the spokesman continued.

     A Recruitment Committee (RC) has been set up for overseeing the implementation of the MSSY.  The RC comprises the Secretary for Home Affairs, the Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission, non-official chairpersons or members of the afore-mentioned ten committees and representatives of the bureaux/departments concerned.  Under the RC, ten Assessment Panels (APs) will be formed to take care of the applications concerning the ten committees respectively.  AP members include the non-official chairperson and/or members of the committee concerned and representatives of the bureau/department concerned. 

     The spokesman said, "the APs will consider whether the applicant has strong commitment to serve the community, good understanding of the policy area concerned, as well as good analytical and communication skills.  The APs will conduct interviews with applicants to facilitate the assessment."  Following the principle of meritocracy, the Government aims to, through the MSSY, recruit young people who have the commitment to serve the community and the ability to contribute to the committees concerned for recommending to the relevant bureaux/departments for consideration of appointment.  Subject to the actual number of applications received, the recruitment exercise is expected to be completed in the last quarter of this year.
      
     The application form and other details of the MSSY are available on the website of the Home Affairs Bureau (www.hab.gov.hk).  In completing the application form, the applicant needs to write no more than 600 words or provide a video / audio clip of no longer than three minutes to explain, in either Chinese or English, his/her suitability of being appointed to be a member of the relevant committee.  Applications may be submitted through the online application system, by post or by hand.

     The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, continued her visit to London, the United Kingdom, yesterday (June 14, London time) and met with key players in different sectors to promote Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution services.

     ​At a roundtable discussion with Asia House's corporate members in the morning, Ms Cheng spoke on Hong Kong's role as the deal making and dispute resolving hub under the Belt and Road Initiative.  

     Ms Cheng said that the Initiative provides vast opportunities.  Under the Initiative, Hong Kong can assume a more proactive role in connecting the Mainland and the rest of the world in terms of trade and investment.  Hong Kong, with a robust common law system which is familiar to the international business community and an independent judiciary, is well placed to serve as a centre for deal making and dispute resolution. 

     In the afternoon, Ms Cheng met with the President and Principal of King's College London, Professor Edward Byrne, and the Executive Dean of the Dickson Poon School of Law at King's College London, Professor Gillian Douglas. Ms Cheng also shared her views with participants including students of King's College London and other universities on the opportunities for Hong Kong in the international arena. 

     She introduced Hong Kong's unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" policy and the latest development of arbitration and mediation in Hong Kong.

     ​Ms Cheng also visited Gray's Inn to give a talk on the development and future of dispute resolution in Hong Kong. She said it is the steadfast policy of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to consolidate Hong Kong's position as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia Pacific region. She further outlined the opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development, and Hong Kong's measures to promote the city’s dispute resolution services.

     Earlier in the day, Ms Cheng attended a breakfast briefing with the All Party Parliamentary China Group. She briefed the participants on the latest developments in Hong Kong, highlighting that Hong Kong has been committed to upholding the rule of law and judicial independence.

     ​Ms Cheng will call on the Law Society today (June 15, London time) before departing for Hong Kong in the afternoon.