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The following press release is issued on behalf of the Independent Commission Against Corruption:

     The ICAC noted in its latest annual report issued today (July 10) that 2023 was “a year of fruitful endeavours and accomplishments” as the Commission advanced towards its golden jubilee. The ICAC sought to safeguard the remarkable achievements made in the past 50 years in combating corruption, contribute to the country’s “Belt and Road” Initiative, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development strategy and the advancement of the global anti-corruption cause by synergising the tripartite partnership formed with the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) and the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption (HKIAAC).
      
     Tabling the 2023 ICAC Annual Report at the Legislative Council today, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption and legislator, Mr Martin Liao, commended and thanked ICAC officers for steadfastly carrying out the anti-corruption mission through the years, continuously bringing the anti-corruption work of Hong Kong to new heights.
      
     Mr Liao noted that the fruitful achievements made by the ICAC in the past 50 years were reflected in the findings of ICAC Annual Surveys and continued recognitions from the international community.
      
     According to the newly published 2023 ICAC Annual Survey, members of the public continued to show zero tolerance to corruption. On a rating scale of 0 to 10, of which 0 represented total rejection and 10 total tolerance of corruption, the mean score for 2023 was 0.3. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority (96.7 per cent) of respondents believed that integrity was important for Hong Kong’s development, indicating that the core value of integrity was deeply rooted in Hong Kong.
      
     In addition, 98.9 per cent of respondents said they had not personally encountered corruption in the past year. Similar findings were recorded in the past 10 years, reflecting that Hong Kong was a very clean society.
      
     On the international front, Hong Kong ranked 14th out of 180 countries and territories rated in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2023 released by the Transparency International. In the World Justice Project’s 2023 Rule of Law Index, Hong Kong ranked 9th under the factor of “absence of corruption” out of 142 countries/territories. These rankings not only reflected Hong Kong’s effective anti-corruption work, but also the city’s sound rule of law.
      
     Meanwhile, in the newly issued World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024, Hong Kong’s competitiveness improved by two places to 5th among 67 economies. Under the indicator “bribery and corruption do not exist”, Hong Kong jumped six places to 4th from 10th last year, topping the Asia-Pacific region. The result reflected that enterprises and investors were confident of Hong Kong’s business environment and anti-corruption work.
      
     In the 2023 ICAC Annual Report, the ICAC Commissioner, Mr Woo Ying-ming, noted that the year was “a year of fruitful endeavours and accomplishments”. The Commission leveraged Hong Kong’s unique advantage of being “backed by the motherland and connected to the world” in fostering closer collaboration with anti-corruption counterparts worldwide and embarking on a new chapter in global graft fight.
      
     Last year, the ICAC fostered a closer co-operation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Apart from hosting an anti-corruption workshop for members of the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE Network) in Vienna, the Commission also organised a training programme for GlobE Network in Hong Kong in February this year. The ICAC and UNODC also jointly developed the “Global Policy Guide for Strengthening Youth Engagement in Anti-Corruption Initiatives”, which served as a practical reference for anti-graft agencies around the world to promote youth engagement in the fight against corruption.
      
     To further contribute to the national and global anti-corruption cause, the HKIAAC was conceived last year and pilot courses were organised for a number of overseas anti-corruption agencies. Upon its official establishment this February, a robust tripartite partnership was formed amongst the ICAC, the HKIAAC and the IAACA, of which the ICAC Commissioner, Mr Woo Ying-ming, serves as President to promote global anti-corruption collaboration. Moreover, the ICAC maintained close liaison with the National Commission of Supervision and played an active role in promoting the integrity building in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
      
     “This new strategy will bring the ICAC’s work to the next level, solidifying Hong Kong’s reputation as a city of probity and providing solid support for Hong Kong’s advancement from stability to prosperity whereby Hong Kong can make substantial contribution to the country’s development and continue to tell the good stories of China, ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and our city to the international community,” Mr Woo noted.
      
     ICAC’s determination to forge ahead against all difficulties to combat corruption with its holistic “three-pronged” strategy has helped maintain Hong Kong as one of the cleanest places in the world. Last year, the corruption situation in Hong Kong continued to remain well under control. The Commission received 2 001 non-election related corruption complaints. Although the figure registered an increase of 9 per cent compared with 2022, the number represented a drop of 13 per cent when compared to the pre-pandemic period in 2019. The rise was mainly due to the gradual recovery of Hong Kong’s economic activities after the pandemic, as evidenced in a corresponding increase of complaints concerning the private sector.
      
     Building Management, Finance and Insurance, and the Construction Industry were the three private sector industries attracting most complaints. Last year, the ICAC smashed the largest corruption case over building maintenance and launched the new “Corruption Prevention Guide for Property Management Companies” to assist property management companies to effectively prevent corruption and enhance anti-graft capabilities.
      
     To promote integrity management in the construction industry, the ICAC teamed up with the Development Bureau and the Construction Industry Council to launch an anti-corruption summit. The ICAC had also strengthened co-operation with regulatory agencies in the financial and insurance industries to leverage synergy and consolidate Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre.
      
     Civil service in the public sector remained clean. The ICAC would continue to collaborate with the Civil Service Bureau to implement the Ethical Leadership Programme. To deepen the integrity culture in government departments, the ICAC would also conduct exchanges with senior to directorate civil servants in courses organised by the Civil Service College. During the year, the ICAC conducted 65 assignment reports for government departments and public bodies to plug corruption loopholes.
      
     The ICAC adopted an “all-embracing” education and publicity strategy to ensure the 2023 Rural Ordinary Election and the 2023 District Council Ordinary Elections were conducted in a fair, open and just manner.

     “Over the past 50 years, the ICAC has been demonstrating its extraordinary strength by fighting corruption unwaveringly without fear or favour. As the Commission looks to the next 50 years, the organisation will continue to make relentless efforts, leaving no foothold for corruption and ensure that corruption has nowhere to run, and their illicit proceeds have no place to hide. The ICAC will continue to strive to keep Hong Kong prosperous, stable, clean and fair,” Mr Woo noted.
 
2023 ICAC Annual Report: www.icac.org.hk/icac/annual-report/2023/
Findings of 2023 ICAC Annual Survey: www.icac.org.hk/en/about/report/survey/finding/index.html read more

     The inaugural Chinese Culture Festival (CCF), organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will launch the screening programme “Chinese Opera Film Shows” in August and September. Ten selected opera films will be presented, allowing Chinese opera enthusiasts to relive the classic movies and revisit the craft and charms of the opera greats on the big screen. This programme is also one of the extension activities of the 12th Chinese Opera Festival.
 
　　To align with the fusion of Eastern and Western elements in the CCF programme “Cyrano de Bergerac” – A Cantonese Opera Interpretation, the “Chinese Opera Film Shows” will feature five Cantonese operatic song films adapted from Western films or classics, allowing Chinese opera fans to appreciate the new audio-visual experiences created by Cantonese cinema’s incorporation of Western elements. Details are as follows:
 
“Bitter Phoenix, Sorrowful Oriole” (1947)
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Date: August 10 (Saturday)
Starring: Ma Si-tsang, Cheung Yuet-yee, Lam Mui-mui, Lau Hark-suen
Synopsis: A famous detective is framed for murder when he investigates the disappearance of a millionaire.
 
“Prince of Thieves” (1958)
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Date: August 24 (Saturday)
Starring: Ho Fei-fan, Mui Yee, Lam Kau, Lee Bo-ying
Synopsis: When Princess Coral seeks suitors, a nefarious prince assassinates the strongest contender. The assassinated suitor is then impersonated by a heroic outlaw, who competes for the princess’s heart.
 
“The White Gold Dragon, Part Two” (1937)
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Date: August 31 (Saturday)
Starring: Tong Suet-hing, Wong Man-lei, Lam Mui-mui, Fan Kok-fei
Synopsis: The rich young man Pak Kam-lung accompanies his fiancée Cheung Yuk-neong to Singapore to manage the rubber plantation of his future father-in-law. Socialite Ng Ma-li is sent to poach Pak and seduce him. Luckily, Cheung’s cousin Yuk-sim thwarts the scheme and saves the relationship between Pak and Cheung.
 
“My Kingdom for a Husband” (1957)
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Date: September 7 (Saturday)
Starring: Tam Lan-hing, Cheung Ying, Leung Sing-por, Ning Meng
Synopsis: A wandering musician meets the Queen of Snow Kingdom and settles down in marriage. However, the luxurious married life he gains comes at a cost, as he soon finds that he is losing his freedom and personal dignity under the Queen’s power, and decides to run away. In the end, the Queen gives up her throne to reconcile with the love of her life.
 
“Madam Butterfly” (1954)
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Date: September 14 (Saturday)
Starring: Sun Ma Si-tsang, Chow Kwun-ling, Yee Chau-sui, Wong Cho-san
Synopsis: The sailor Ma Yuanxiang travels to Japan and meets a geisha named Butterfly, whom he marries. Shortly after, when his ship sets sail for Hong Kong, Yuanxiang bids farewell to the pregnant Butterfly. Once back home, Yuanxiang marries Lucy, the manager’s daughter. Three years later, Butterfly is still waiting day and night for Yuanxiang’s return, with her son by her side.
 
     In addition, the “Chinese Opera Film Shows” will present five Chinese opera films. Apart from films on the Shanghai-style and Qi School of Peking opera, those about Wukong the Monkey King, Bony Demon and Mu Guiying will also be featured, making an interesting contrast between the stage performances and film screenings for similar repertories at the festival. Details are as follows:
 
“Wu Song” (1963)
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Date: August 7 (Wednesday)
Starring: Gai Jiaotian, Zhang Youfu, Ai Shiju
Synopsis: On his way to visit his elder brother Wu Dalang, Wu Song passes by Jingyang Knoll in Yanggu County and kills a fierce tiger, thus ridding the area of a menace. Dalang’s wife, Pan Jinlian, has an affair with the local bully, Ximen Qing, and they conspire to poison Dalang to death. Upon discovering the truth, Wu Song avenges his brother by killing the two adulterers.
 
“The Stage Craft of Zhou Xinfang” (1961)
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Date: August 14 (Wednesday)
Starring: Zhou Xinfang, Wang Zhikui, Zhao Xiaolan, Wang Zhengping
Synopsis: This film documents two renowned works of Zhou Xinfang (stage name Qilintong), “Xu Ce Running across the City” and “Delivering the Letter and Killing Yan Xijiao”. “Xu Ce Running across the City” is a production that Zhou meticulously honed over decades to portray a righteous character who is willing to lay down his life for a just cause. “Delivering the Letter and Killing Yan Xijiao” originally consisted of two acts from “The House of Wulong”, but Zhou rewrote it to give it a better structure. Through cinematic techniques, the film captures the maestro’s consummate performance and striking stage presence, thus preserving the stylistic legacy of the Qi School.
 
“Murder in the Oratory” (1937)
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Date: August 21 (Wednesday)
Starring: Zhou Xinfang, Yuan Meiyun
Synopsis: Wang Mang usurps the Han throne and issues an edict to apprehend Liu Xiu. When Liu Xiu is captured at Tongguan Pass by General Wu Han, Wu Han’s mother is furious and reveals to her son how Wang Mang has murdered the emperor and killed Wu Han’s father. She orders Wu Han to release Liu Xiu, leave his official post and kill his own wife, who is Wang Mang’s daughter.
 
“Mu Guiying Routing Hongzhou” (1963)
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Date: August 28 (Wednesday)
Starring: Liu Xiurong, Zhang Chunxiao
Synopsis: General Bai Tianzuo of Liao is invading the northern border, and the Song army’s commander, Yang Yanzhao, is besieged. Yang Zongbao rides alone to the capital to seek reinforcements. However, none of the available generals are capable of undertaking the rescue mission. Consequently, Mu Guiying, the wife of Zongbao, despite being pregnant, takes command and leads the troops into battle.
 
“Sun Wu Kong Thrice Beat the Bony Demon” (1960)
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Date: September 4 (Wednesday)
Starring: Liu Lingtong, Xiao Changshun, Qi Lingtong, Fu Machao, Xiao Yanqiu
Synopsis: Monk Tripitaka and his three disciples are on their pilgrimage to bring back the sacred scrolls to China. On reaching the foot of White Tiger Mountain, the adept shapeshifting Skeleton Demon disguises itself as a village girl, an old woman, and an old man in turn to fulfil its desire to eat Tripitaka’s flesh. Its antics are seen through by Wukong the Monkey King who breaks its spells with his magic staff every time. However, Tripitaka sees Wukong’s acts as repeated manslaughter and angrily banishes him back to Flower Fruit Mountain. Tripitaka then falls into the clutches of the demon once again.
 
     Traditional Chinese subtitles will be provided for lyrics of the Cantonese operatic song films “Prince of Thieves”, “My Kingdom for a Husband” and “Madam Butterfly”. Simplified Chinese subtitles will be provided for lyrics of the Chinese opera films “Wu Song”, “Mu Guiying Routing Hongzhou” and “Sun Wu Kong Thrice Beat the Bony Demon”, while simplified Chinese subtitles will be provided for lyrics and dialogues of “The Stage Craft of Zhou Xinfang” and “Murder in the Oratory”.
 
     The above-mentioned Cantonese operatic song films will be screened at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum at 7.45pm, and the Chinese opera films will be screened at the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive at 7.30pm. Tickets priced at $70 per screening are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/chinese-opera-festival-2024-chinese-opera-film-shows/.
 
     The programme will also feature two sessions under the “Chinese Culture for All: A Special Performance Series” on September 9 (Monday) at the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive, with free admission specially for primary and secondary school students. Featuring the film of Shao opera “Sun Wu Kong Thrice Beat the Bony Demon” (1960), students will have a chance to learn more about and appreciate the artistic style of Chinese regional opera through the big screen and to experience the wonders of Chinese culture and arts.
 
     The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the LCSD’s Chinese Culture Promotion Office, aims to enhance the public’s appreciation of Chinese culture and cultivate citizens’ national identity and cultural confidence. The inaugural CCF is held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival, exemplary local arts projects recognised by the China National Arts Fund, performing arts programmes from arts and cultural organisations, film screenings, exhibitions, talks and more, the festival allows members of the public and visitors to experience the broad and profound Chinese culture with a view to promoting Chinese culture and patriotic education as well as enhancing national identity among the people of Hong Kong, making contributions to the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems”. For details, please visit the CCF website www.ccf.gov.hk.

     The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.

                    

     â€‹A sick 84-year-old male remand person in custody at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre died in a public hospital today (July 10).
      
     The remand person in custody suffered from heart disease. He required continuous medical care and follow-up treatment at the institution hospital and a public hospital. On July 9, he was sent to a public hospital for treatment due to physical discomfort. During hospitalisation, his condition deteriorated and he was certified dead at 8.10am today.
      
     The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner’s Court.
      
     The person in custody was remanded for the offence of wounding with intent in December 2023. read more

     Following is a question by Professor the Hon Lau Chi-pang and a reply by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, in the Legislative Council today (July 10):   Question:    &nbs… read more

     About 600 experts and delegates in emergency response, paramedic services, medical professions and fire engineering from various countries and regions are taking part in the Fire Asia 2024 international conference being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from today (July 10) to July 12. 

     Delegations of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from 19 countries, including the Director General of the General Administration of Civil Protection, Ministry of Interior, Egypt; and heads or senior officials of emergency or fire departments in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia and Singapore were invited to attend.

     The three-day conference is one of the mega events being held in Hong Kong in July. Themed “Collaboration and Technology – Better Prepare the Community for Emergency” this year, the conference has brought together global fire and emergency professionals to gain invaluable insights into fire safety and groundbreaking research from eminent speakers worldwide, striving to promote the development of the industry. The conference also exemplified the international co-operation and exchanges that could make a difference, regionally and globally, and to tell the China story and the Hong Kong story well.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung; and the Director of Fire Services, Mr Andy Yeung, officiated at the opening ceremony this morning.
 
     Addressing the ceremony, Mr Chan said, “Emergency preparedness is essential to protecting an economy and its people from the impact of wide-ranging disasters, crises and other emergencies. An effective emergency management system helps mitigate disruptions to essential services, economic stability and social order. In today’s interconnected world, the threats of emergencies and disasters could be cross-border by nature. Regional and international teamwork play an important role in reducing risks and enhancing resilience.”

     Also speaking at the ceremony, Mr Yeung said that it is crucial for fire and emergency professionals to adopt an innovative approach to addressing emergency situations. The Hong Kong Fire Services Department (HKFSD) has been actively using modern technology to boost the department’s emergency response capabilities. Innovative solutions, such as robots, drones and self-developed artificial intelligence-powered systems to cope with emergencies, have significantly enhanced the effectiveness and safety of the department’s work.

     Fire Asia 2024 is jointly organised by the Institution of Fire Engineers (Hong Kong Branch), the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Building Services Division and Fire Division), the China Hong Kong Ambulance Service Institute and the China Hong Kong Fire Protection Association, supported by the HKFSD and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. The conference covers various topics, including new approaches to disaster management and fire safety measures, collaboration in the Greater Bay Area and emergency preparedness in the Belt and Road region, as well as the latest research in fire engineering and emergency medical services.