The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) today (August 8) held an online seminar on the "Spirit of the President's Important Speech" at the Central Government Offices, where about 120 colleagues at the middle and senior levels of policy branches and departments under the HYAB participated. The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, attended as the principal speaker at the seminar.

     Miss Mak shared with colleagues the core essence of the important speech delivered by President Xi Jinping at the meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to let them have a deeper understanding and reflection. The Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Ms Shirley Lam; the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung; the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Alice Cheung; and Deputy Director of Information Services Ms Grace Ng, and other participants also spoke and shared their thoughts at the seminar.

     President Xi raised in his important speech "four musts" for the new administration: it must fully and faithfully implement the principle of "one country, two systems"; it must uphold the Central Government's overall jurisdiction while securing the HKSAR's high degree of autonomy; it must ensure that Hong Kong is administered by patriots; and it must maintain Hong Kong's distinctive status and advantages. President Xi also laid down "four proposals" for the newly inaugurated Government, i.e. further improving its governance, continuing to create strong impetus for growth, earnestly addressing people's concerns and difficulties in daily life, and working together to safeguard harmony and stability.

     Addressing the seminar, Miss Mak said that President Xi's important speech had expounded in depth the crucial guidance on the future development of Hong Kong, and that the "four proposals" mentioned in the speech are specifically the direction of work for the HYAB. She quoted the important speech by President Xi that the Government should care about the young people and help them overcome the genuine difficulties in education, employment, entrepreneurship and home ownership.

     Miss Mak said, "Youth development is a major priority of the HYAB. We have commenced preparatory work for the formulation of the 'youth development blueprint' which will outline the vision and major directions of Hong Kong's overall youth development work. We will collaborate with different policy bureaux and their respective departments to implement policy measures directly relevant to the youth development."

     President Xi also mentioned in his important speech that the community should work together to safeguard harmony and stability, and to create a better life in solidarity. Miss Mak pointed out that the HYAB will enhance work in districts and encourage residents to participate in community services, so as to establish mutual help networks. She encouraged colleagues to integrate the spirit of the President's important speech into their own work, implementing policies that would benefit the citizens.

     Since July till now, over 45 sessions have been held by the 18 District Offices. A number of speakers have been invited to address the sessions so as to enable more key district figures to obtain a deeper understanding of the spirit of President Xi's important speech. A total of about 6 700 participants have attended the sessions.

    

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) is inviting eligible individuals or organisations to submit applications from tomorrow (August 9) until September 19 for the IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment (4th Round). Eligible individuals may also apply for the Central Fund for Personal Computers (46th Round) during the same period.
 
     The objectives of the IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment are to support non-profit-making and non-governmental organisations providing services or schooling for people with visual impairment (PVIs) as well as tertiary institutions to acquire advanced Chinese screen readers, Braille displays of 40 cells and accessories/portable devices to facilitate PVIs' browsing the Internet, and to subsidise individual PVIs with economic difficulties to purchase these devices to meet their needs on studying or employment.
 
     Subsidies will be granted to successful organisational applicants for purchasing high-performance Chinese screen readers (capped at $9,800) and/or Braille displays (capped at $36,000) and/or accessories/portable devices (capped at $66,300) on the reference list under the Scheme. Successful individual applicants will be sponsored to purchase high-performance Chinese screen readers with an amount not more than $9,800 and/or accessories/portable devices not more than $49,600 and/or Braille displays on the same reference list not more than $32,400.
 
     Eligible organisations may lodge their applications by completing the designated forms. For individual applicants, a nomination from subvented non-governmental rehabilitation organisations, the student affairs offices of local tertiary institutions, principals of local secondary/primary schools, or the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department (LD) is required, and the application should be submitted through the nominating organisation in the designated form. Quotations for the devices concerned must be submitted together with the applications. Invitation letters have been sent to the relevant organisations to invite nominations.
 
     The Central Fund for Personal Computers aims to assist eligible persons with disabilities in acquiring the necessary computer facilities for self-employment or receiving supported employment services at home with the guidance and follow-up services provided by the referral rehabilitation organisations or the Selective Placement Division of the LD. Applicants must:
 
(a) be users of rehabilitation services of and nominated by rehabilitation service organisations or the Selective Placement Division of the LD;
(b) have difficulties in engaging in open employment;
(c) provide a viable business plan which requires the use of computer facilities;
(d) have financial difficulty in acquiring the computer facilities necessary for implementation of the business plan;
(e) be capable of using a computer to carry out the business plan; and
(f) obtain the consent of the nominating organisations or the LD to provide guidance and follow-up services after applicants' acquisition of the computer facilities.
 
     Details of the above schemes are available on the SWD website (www.swd.gov.hk) and CyberAble.net (www.CyberAble.net). Information notes and application forms can be downloaded from the websites. For enquiries, please contact the Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services Branch of the SWD at 3586 3594, through email to eoimc@swd.gov.hk or by fax to 2834 7046.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 8) that Yuen Long Stadium in Yuen Long District will be temporarily closed from August 15 for redevelopment works. The scope of the project comprises reprovisioning of an 11-a-side natural turf football pitch, an eight-lane 400-metre-long athletics track and other field facilities, and both the east and west spectator stands with fixed covers, as well as upgrading the existing ancillary facilities to comply with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Stadium Regulations and the standards and requirements of World Athletics simultaneously.

     After the redevelopment, Yuen Long Stadium will be suitable for hosting AFC-sanctioned international matches and local football matches, and will become a main venue for holding school athletics meets in the district. The Stadium will also be available for community jogging, track and field training and other sports activities on non-event days.

     During the redevelopment period, the public may use Tin Shui Wai Sports Ground and the artificial turf pitch of Tin Yip Road Park in the same district.

     As required by Article 13 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the National Security Law), the State Council today (August 8), on the nomination and suggestion of the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, approved the appointment of Mr Sonny Au Chi-kwong, as the Secretary General of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the removal of Mr Chan Kwok-ki from the post of the Secretary General of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR.
 
     Commenting on the appointment of Mr Au, Mr Lee said, "Mr Au has been Under Secretary for Security over the past five years. He possesses a strong sense of national security and is well versed in national security affairs. He is capable of taking up the post of Secretary General to lead the Secretariat in supporting the Committee to fulfil its crucial responsibility to safeguard national security."
 
     It is stipulated in the National Security Law that a Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR chaired by the Chief Executive shall be established and be responsible for affairs relating to and assume primary responsibility for safeguarding national security. The Committee shall be under the supervision of and accountable to the Central People's Government. The Secretariat established under the Committee is to be headed by the Secretary General.
       
     Following is the biographical note on Mr Sonny Au Chi-kwong:
      
     Aged 60. Mr Au was Under Secretary for Security between 2017 and 2022.
      
     Mr Au joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 1980 as a Police Constable and was appointed as an Inspector in 1986. He was promoted to Chief Superintendent in 2007, Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2011 and Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2015. He has held a variety of posts including Director of Personnel and Training, and Director of Crime and Security.

  

Attention TV/radio announcers:

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     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (August 8) that due to big waves and inclement weather, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach and Shek O Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; and Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.