The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, and the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Ms Shirley Lam, led more than 20 youth volunteer interns participating in the United Nations Volunteers – Hong Kong Universities Volunteer Internship Programme to visit the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OCMFA) today (June 27), and met with Deputy Commissioner of the OCMFA Mr Fang Jianming. The Chairman of the Agency for Volunteer Service (the co-organiser of the Programme), Ms Melissa Kaye Pang, also joined the visit. 
      
     The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau promulgated the Youth Development Blueprint in end-2022. The vision is to nurture a new generation of young people with an affection for the country and for Hong Kong and equipped with global perspectives, an aspiring mindset and positive thinking, who will make contributions to the development of the country and the city. The Government launched the Programme in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) Volunteers and provides funding support to local university students to undertake six-month volunteer placements in different UN agencies. This would help young people develop their personal capabilities and expand their horizons, and also provide an opportunity for them to contribute to the international community in the capacity as Chinese youth volunteers. This year, the Programme offers a total of 25 internship placements in different UN agencies located in Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Nepal, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
      
     During her remarks, Miss Mak expressed gratitude to the OCMFA for its support to the Programme, especially the arrangements of today's visit. She also thanked the representatives from the Department of International Organizations and Conferences of the OCMFA for introducing the work of the OCMFA to the youth volunteer interns, which would help deepen their understanding of the country's foreign affairs prior to their departure. She mentioned that this year's Programme has been expanded to cover more countries along the Belt and Road regions and was well received by young people, with the number of applications nearly doubled compared to the previous year. She said she hopes that the interns could broaden their global perspectives, understand China's contributions and influences across the world through this valuable experience, and also take the opportunity to tell the world good stories of Hong Kong.
      
     The youth volunteer interns will depart to undertake volunteer placements in the UN agencies (e.g. the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, etc) starting from next month.     

      

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has long been committed to combating the sale of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat, and raided a licensed fresh provision shop (FPS) in North District suspected of selling frozen meat as fresh meat today (June 27).   
      
     During the operation, FEHD officers raided a licensed FPS in the market of the Queens Hill Shopping Centre in Fanling, and marked and sealed about 206 kilograms of suspected frozen beef for further investigation. A beef sample was also collected for detection of preservatives. Prosecution will be initiated if sufficient evidence is collected. The licensee of the FPS is suspected of breaching the licensing condition for the display and sale of frozen meat as fresh meat, and the FEHD is proceeding with the cancellation of the FPS's licence.
      
     FEHD officers also initiated prosecution against the operator of the FPS for dirtiness of the premises. A verbal warning was also given for non-compliance with the relevant licensing condition for failing to provide delivery notes for inspection. 
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     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The selling of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat breaches the licensing condition and causes food safety problems. The operation of these profiteers is unfair to other shops that comply with the requirements."
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     The spokesman added, "Anyone selling chilled or frozen meat without permission commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment on conviction. The department will continue to conduct regular inspections at licensed FPSs and market meat stalls, and will actively handle the complaints received. In detecting any irregularities, the FEHD will carry out immediate investigations and take appropriate enforcement action. In addition, the FEHD also proactively investigates suspected violations from time to time, and conducts surprise inspections and enforcement action as necessary. If there is sufficient evidence, prosecution will be initiated and follow-up action will be taken against the breach of licensing conditions or tenancy agreements. The licences of FPSs breaching the licensing conditions may be cancelled, while the tenancies of market meat stalls breaching the tenancy agreements may be terminated."    

     The spokesman stressed that the FEHD is very concerned about the situation, and has been committed to combating the sale of chilled or frozen meat disguised as fresh meat by taking stringent enforcement action against the violations.

  

     Hong Kong Customs on June 25 seized a total of about 15 kilograms of suspected dangerous drugs with an estimated market value of about $9 million in Tsuen Wan. 

     Through risk assessment, Customs on that day inspected three air parcels, declared as carrying pet food, snacks and seasonings and arriving in Hong Kong from the United States, at a warehouse of a local consolidator company in Tsuen Wan. Upon inspection, Customs officers found that three parcels had suspected dangerous drugs concealed inside, including about 9 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine and about 6 kilograms of suspected liquid cocaine.

     After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation yesterday (June 26) in Tsuen Wan and arrested two male consignees, aged 17 and 18. The two arrested persons have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. They will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (June 28).

     Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Customs reminds young people to pay attention to the fact that drug trafficking is a serious criminal offence. Criminal conviction will result in grave repercussions for their future and they should not take risks in the hope that they may not be caught.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

  

The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:
 
     The Research Grants Council (RGC) today (June 27) announced the funding results of the General Research Fund (GRF) and the Early Career Scheme (ECS) for 2024/25. Altogether, 1 255 successful proposals were granted funding totalling $1.1 billion.
 
     In this round of exercise, the RGC received 3 533 GRF and 634 ECS applications from academic staff of the eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee. This represents an increase of 10 per cent and 21 per cent respectively as compared with that of last round.
 
     After rigorous international peer reviews, 1 046 GRF projects were approved with a total funding of around $980 million, which compares with that of last year, with an overall success rate of about 30 per cent. The funded proposals cover all the disciplines of business studies, biology and medicine, engineering, humanities and social sciences, and physical sciences.
 
     Moreover, the RGC also decided to fund 209 ECS projects with a total amount of around $140 million. This represents an increase of 12 per cent in terms of the number of projects funded, with an overall success rate of about 33 per cent.
 
     The RGC Subject Panels commended the marked improvement in the overall quality of research proposals submitted under the GRF and ECS in recent years, including the originality of the proposals as well as the innovative methodologies that they put forward to tackle research questions. The research outcomes will support further development in various research fields.
 
     The Chairman of the RGC, Professor Timothy W. Tong said, "It is heartening to see the enthusiasm of the Hong Kong research community in taking forward individual exploratory research as evidenced by the significant increase in the number of applications and the outstanding research quality in this round of exercise.
 
     "The RGC endeavours to propel the growth of the thriving Hong Kong research ecosystem by administering different individual and collaborative research funding schemes. Amongst them, the GRF and ECS, which support all research disciplines for individual researchers, are instrumental in the Council's mission to develop a robust research base for maintaining academic vigour and catering to the needs of Hong Kong."
 
     The RGC has stepped up efforts in recent years in supporting early‑stage researchers in Hong Kong to further bolster Hong Kong's capacity as a world-leading education and innovation hub. Professor Tong said that it was encouraging to see an increased number of proposals funded under the ECS this year. The RGC looks forward to remarkable research outcomes from these talented individuals.
 
     The GRF and the ECS are individual research funding schemes under the RGC. The GRF supplements universities' own research support for researchers who have achieved or have the potential to achieve excellence. The ECS aims to nurture junior academics and prepare them for a career in education and research. Following international practice, the RGC has adopted a peer-review mechanism to assess research proposals primarily based on academic quality and merit.
 
     The 2024/25 funding results of the GRF and the ECS are available on the RGC website (GRF: ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/grf/funded_research.html; ECS: ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/ecs/funded_research.html).

     The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (June 27).
 
     The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.
 
     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
 
     The heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Island:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
 
     In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.