Following are the opening remarks by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the Opening Ceremony of Law Society of Hong Kong's Teen Talk 2024 "Deepening Legal Cooperation, Youth Shaping Tomorrow" GBA Study Tour today (July 6):

Mr Roden Tong (President of the Law Society of Hong Kong), Mr Chen Ming (Member of the Party Committee of Justice Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality and Full time Secretary of the Party Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal Lawyer Industry), Mr Liu Chunhua (Director-General of the Department of Law of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, students from Hong Kong and Shenzhen,

     Good morning! We are here today in Shenzhen Talent Park, a place that serves to remind us of the value of talents and their contributions to the development of the city. It is with great pleasure that we gather here today for the opening ceremony of "Teen Talk 2024", an annual flagship event of the Law Society of Hong Kong, and with you all, future leaders of the cities of Hong Kong and Shenzhen. 

     The Greater Bay Area (GBA) has a combined population of over 86 million and GDP over RMB13 trillion in 2022. The objective of the development of GBA is to deepen co-operation amongst Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and leverage the complementary advantages of the three places, to promote co-ordinated regional economic development, with a view to develop a world-class bay area ideal for living, working and travelling. GBA presents various opportunities and exciting career prospects for talented individuals. 

     Hong Kong, being the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region and having a long-standing and well-established common law tradition, has a wealth of expertise in bridging different legal systems. Hong Kong displays its pivotal role as a "super connector" connecting with the rest of the world. Talents can make good use of the unique advantages of Hong Kong to tap into the development of opportunities of GBA. 

     The HKSAR Government is committed to contribute to the training of legal talents. The Department of Justice will take forward the establishment of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy. It is also through initiatives, like the present thoughtfully-organized study tour of the Law Society of Hong Kong, that we lay the foundation for legal talents. Through this two-day tour, you will have the chance to visit different places, including law court and arbitration center, in Shenzhen. This experience will provide you with insights that will shape your future endeavours, not only in the legal field, but beyond. 

     Let us approach this experience with open minds and eager hearts, and seize this opportunity to learn from each other and foster an exchange of ideas that will benefit both our legal systems. 

     Lastly, I wish the study tour a great success, and all participants a most rewarding and enjoyable time in GBA. Thank you. 

  

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Student of the Year Awards 2023/24 Presentation Ceremony today (July 6): 
 
Catherine (Chief Executive Officer of the South China Morning Post, Ms Catherine So), Gabriel (Executive Director, Charities and Community of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dr Gabriel Leung), Tammy (Editor-in-Chief of the South China Morning Post, Ms Tammy Tam), Advisory Board members, judges, parents, principals, teachers, students, ladies and gentlemen, 

     Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to join you all on this happy occasion – the presentation ceremony of the annual Student of the Year Awards. 

     Today, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of senior secondary school students throughout Hong Kong. In total, there are ten distinct award categories, covering academic performance, language, arts, sports, community service, and more. 

     I must first thank the Awards organiser and sponsor, the South China Morning Post and The Hong Kong Jockey Club respectively, for putting together this meaningful event year after year. Their far-reaching commitment to education – to the youth of Hong Kong – inspires us all.

     New this year is the "Sustainability Advocate" category, showcasing strong commitment and leadership in advancing sustainability. Our future depends on sustainability, so I am glad to see it recognised in the Awards. 

     The Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to building a sustainable future for Hong Kong and co-operating with young people in doing so.

     A good example is the Sustainable Development School Outreach Programme, as well as the Sustainable Development School Award Programme, launched by the Environment and Ecology Bureau this school year. The programmes offered seminars, workshops, field trips and ambassador training, where some 75 000 students from around 200 primary and secondary schools learnt the concept and importance of sustainable development.

     Our Government is equally committed to nurturing a new generation of youth with an affection for the motherland and Hong Kong, with global perspectives, and with positive thinking. As you all know, the Government launched a holistic Youth Development Blueprint two years ago, with more than 160 initiatives to chart a clear pathway for different stakeholders in society to drive youth development.

     And we continued to meet young people's needs, with nearly 60 new measures introduced last year. Those measures ranged from promoting patriotic education, strengthening vocational and professional training, to enhancing support for mental health and fostering youth engagement.

     We will also organise the first-edition Youth Development Summit in August. Guest speakers, and youth groups, from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and overseas will gather in Hong Kong, exchanging views for mutual learning on issues of interest to young people. 

     I am therefore pleased to say that the theme of this year's Awards, "Empowering Collective Impact", couldn't be timelier. To provide a conducive environment for young people to grow and thrive, the collective efforts of the Government and all stakeholders are essential.

     Ladies and gentlemen, your commitment to youth development is reassuring. I am talking about not just our soon-to-be announced student winners and runners-up, but also their parents who must be proud.

     I am talking, too, about the principals, teachers, and many others who have – so well, so selflessly – guided our students towards success every step of the way.

     My thanks, once again, to the South China Morning Post and The Hong Kong Jockey Club, as well as the expert judging panel, for their dedication to this year's Awards.

     Together, collectively, we make a profound difference for our youth and for Hong Kong.

     And my congratulations to all the award winners and finalists this year. I have every confidence that you will continue to build on your achievements in your education – and in your bright career ahead. 

     Ladies and gentlemen, I know you will all enjoy this very special day. You certainly deserve it.

     On that note, I wish you all the best in the year to come. Thank you very much.

    

     Police today (July 6) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Kwun Tong.

     Mak Kwai-king, aged 82, went missing after she was last seen on Lei Yue Mun Road yesterday (July 5) afternoon. Her family made a report to Police on the same day.

     She is about 1.5 metres tall, 45 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and short white hair. She was last seen wearing a light purple vest jacket, a light blue short-sleeved shirt, dark-coloured trousers and  dark-coloured sneakers.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0331 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

    

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on Social Workers Registration Board at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (July 6):

Reporter: Mr Sun, can you talk more about the reformed Social Workers Registration Board? How would the appointment of Mr Herman Hui, who is a lawyer by practice, would help in leading the statutory body? Also, lawmakers said that the Board lacked members from smaller organisations. Do you agree with the view that the board should include more people from smaller organisations to make it more inclusive and representative? 

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Thank you very much. The new Social Workers Registration Board was formed yesterday with the appointment of Mr Herman Hui as the new Chairperson. We believe the Board is going to carry out its duties in accordance with the law, including the four major tasks I have asked the Board to take in the coming year, including:

(1) setting up a mechanism to deal with social workers who have committed offenses relating to national security; 
(2) reviewing the Code of Practice for Registered Social Workers;
(3) reviewing the appointment of members to the Disciplinary Committee Panel; and 
(4) setting up a mechanism for continuing professional development. 

     Herman is well known in the welfare field. He has been serving the sector for more than 30 years. While he is not a registered social worker, for those in the welfare sector, Herman is so well known because of his dedication, commitment, and also his selfless services to the sector. I am sure he is going to command the respect of the sector. The deputy Chairperson, Miss Grace Chan, is a very capable, competent, and well-regarded social worker in the field. The two together is going to lead the Board forward. 

     The appointment to the Board is all ad personam. It is on a personal basis. They are requested to carry out their duties dutifully and not having regard to where they are coming from. There is no difference between those coming from larger, smaller or medium-sized welfare organisations. They are to look after the social workers from their individual points of view. The Social Workers Registration Board is only concerning the registration of individual social workers and not the welfare institutions. It is not relevant whether they are coming from larger or smaller organisations in the field. Thank you very much.

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

     To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of superstar Anita Mui, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) has organised the exhibition "Timeless Diva: Anita Mui". The exhibition has been popular among the local public and tourists, receiving over 300 000 visitors since its opening in late December last year.

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, and a close friend of Mui and prominent fashion and image designer, Mr Eddie Lau, visited the HKHM yesterday (July 5) to present a special gift pack to the 300 000th visitor of the exhibition. The souvenir pack included an exhibition poster autographed by Lau, a souvenir designed by him, an exhibition postcard, souvenirs of the "Hong Kong Pop 60+" exhibition, and two complimentary tickets of the "ART!ON POP" concert.

     The 300 000th visitor of the exhibition is Miss Wong. Her family is museum lover and holds LCSD museum passes. Before visiting the HKHM in Sha Tin, the family also visited the Hong Kong Museum of History and Hong Kong Science Museum located in Tsim Sha Tsui. Miss Wong said that she loved Mui’s unique voice, singing skills and her movie "Wu Yen". Miss Wong was also deeply impressed by the costumes on display at the HKHM, especially the white wedding gown worn by Mui at her last concert in 2003, at the permanent exhibition "Hong Kong Pop 60+".

     The "Timeless Diva: Anita Mui" exhibition showcases 70 sets of precious exhibits in relation to Mui. They include Lau's generous donation of 20 sets of exhibits, such as the classic costume worn by Mui for the image of "Evil Girl" at "Anita Mui in Concert"; the stage costume worn when she received the Golden Needle Award at Radio Television Hong Kong's "The 21st Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award Concert"; trophies for music and films, and autographed vinyl records. Videos of Mui's ever-changing images in music and movies are also featured at the exhibition. Visitors can scan the QR codes in the gallery to listen to Mui's radio interviews in the 1980s and 1990s to understand her thoughts and stories since her debut as a singer. The exhibition will run until September 2 with free admission. For details of the exhibition, please visit
     hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/exhibitions/data/anitamui2023.html.
      
     The HKHM has organised various exhibitions in relation to Hong Kong popular culture in recent years. Apart from the exhibition "Timeless Diva: Anita Mui", the permanent exhibition "Hong Kong Pop 60+", displays of stage costumes and personal items of various superstars, such as the white wedding gown worn by Mui at her last concert in 2003, Leslie Cheung's stage costumes and the first acoustic guitar of Wong Ka-kui has been organised. Through more than 1 000 exhibits related to Hong Kong popular music, film, and television and radio programmes, the exhibition illustrates the development of Hong Kong popular culture. Visitors of all ages can find their own unique memories, learn more about the history and evolution of Hong Kong popular culture from the exhibition, and realise the happy memories and pleasant experiences offered by the HKHM.

     A new exhibition "A Laugh at the World: James Wong" will also be launched by the HKHM starting from July 17. Through around 140 sets of exhibits, including selected museum collections and loan exhibits, the exhibition aims to introduce Wong's contributions to music, film, television, advertising, literature and more, and demonstrate the cultural integration of his works, as well as how he translated traditional contents into contemporary pop culture creations. The exhibition is one of the programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024.