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     Following is the speech by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the Opening Ceremony of the 42nd Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators (APCCA) today (November 18):

Deputy Director General Cheng Wei (Deputy Director General of the Bureau of Prison Administration, the Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China), Secretary Tang Ping-keung (Secretary for Security), Commissioner Wong Kwok-hing (Commissioner of Correctional Services), Emeritus Professor Neil Morgan (APCCA Rapporteur), Mrs Irene Morgan (APCCA Rapporteur), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. It is my great honour to, on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, welcome you all to the 42nd Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators (APCCA). It is exceedingly good to see more than 140 professionals of prison and correctional administrations joining this year’s five-day conference. We warmly welcome delegations from 29 jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region, including 16 Belt and Road countries, to come to our city. Hong Kong is privileged and proud to be the host of APCCA for the fourth time. The presence of so many heads and deputy heads of correctional institutions at this conference speaks volumes for the status and importance of APCCA.

     The theme of this year’s conference is “Collaboration for Sustainable and High-quality Development”, which highlights our keen determination to advance and deepen multilateral co-operation among the correctional authorities in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve sustainable and high-quality development in the realm of corrections.

     The Hong Kong Correctional Services Department (HKCSD) is a linchpin of Hong Kong’s social stability. With the Department’s strenuous efforts in ensuring a safe and secure custodial environment, providing diversified rehabilitation programmes and extending its reach beyond the prison walls through promoting crime prevention education in the community, Hong Kong’s recidivism rate has recorded a significant decrease from 39.9 per cent in 2000 to 21.7 per cent in 2021, making Hong Kong one of the safest cities in the world. This outstanding achievement did not come easily.

     Over the years, the HKCSD has put a strong focus on applying innovation and technology to raise its management efficiency, the level of security of correctional institutions and the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes. The HKCSD launched the Smart Prison protocol in 2018. Since then, technology projects covering different areas of prison administration have been introduced in its institutions. For four consecutive years from 2021 to 2024, the HKCSD was awarded silver medals for its innovative projects by the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, the largest global exhibition devoted exclusively to inventions.

     The HKCSD has also been making use of technology to provide e-services for the convenience of the public. For example, a Social Visit e-Booking Service was launched last year for members of the public to schedule visits to persons in custody online. This e-booking service project and another smart prison project, the Integrated Custodial and Rehabilitation Management System, won the Hong Kong Smart City Initiative of the Year at the GovMedia Awards 2024, which gives recognition to outstanding government initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region to honour organisations that exemplify leadership, creativity and impactful results in public services. The HKCSD would be sharing its experience in launching these initiatives later during the conference.

     Apart from its core duties, the HKCSD also endeavours to strengthen professional exchanges and collaboration with counterparts at regional and international levels. For example, the HKCSD has participated in international conferences and functions such as APCCA and the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) Conference. In September this year, HKCSD’s Project JET rehabilitation project was awarded the 2024 Community Corrections Award, an award presented by the ICPA for remarkable results achieved in the corrections profession. These achievements are not only conducive to closer cooperation with our counterparts and a wider network of correctional systems, but also help Hong Kong’s integration into the overall national development and telling our story worldwide.

     Following this APCCA conference, the HKCSD will next host the first Greater Bay Area Correctional Tactical Skills Competition early next year, which aims to foster an exchange of experiences in crisis management and reinforce the rapport between the HKCSD and other correctional authorities in the Greater Bay Area. If you do not already know, ladies and gentlemen, the Greater Bay Area comprises 11 cities in the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao area with a combined population of 86 million. The competition will be another precious opportunity for strengthening regional collaboration on handling correctional emergencies.

     Ladies and gentlemen, I have no doubt that you have a packed programme in the next few days. But if at all possible, please find time to go around the city which has quite a lot to offer in terms of food and beverage, local characteristic, transport efficiency, arts and culture and so on. I assure you that you would find the time spent worthwhile. 

     Lastly, I want to thank the HKCSD for organising this important regional gathering. I wish the conference great success, and all of you a good and fulfilling time in the week ahead. Thank you very much.

  

     Police today (November 18) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tsuen Wan.      Ching Kwun-keung, aged 40, went missing after he was last seen on Sha Tsui Road on … read more

     To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the birth of the legendary film star Lin Dai, the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present “Love Without End: The Screen Diva Lin Dai” in its screening series “Morning Matinee” from December 20, 2024, to March 7, 2025, featuring 14 classic films starring Lin and four documentaries about her.
 
     Lin was immensely popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Although her film career lasted for only about a decade, she was awarded the Best Actress four times at the Asian Film Festival with her refined skills and acting charisma, and left behind many unforgettable classics. This screening programme comprises four sections – “Maiden Love”, “City Girl”, “Fatal Beauty” and “Glory of Life”, offering an overview of Lin’s superb acting in films of different genres.
 
     Many of the films starring Lin are heart-wrenching love stories. Five films of various styles are included in the “Maiden Love” section. “The Fisherman’s Daughter” (1956) and “Golden Phoenix” (1956) are romance films early in Lin’s career. Her performance as a tender village maiden and a straightforward rural lady in the films respectively demonstrated her talent in acting. “The Fisherman’s Daughter” will feature an additional screening of a short documentary, “A Tribute to Lin Dai” (1964), with scenes of Lin’s funeral and thousands of her fans bidding her farewell. “Golden Phoenix” will feature an additional screening of “Linda Lin Dai’s Wedding” (1961), documenting the precious moments of her wedding with other entertainment personalities attending in joyous celebration. Lin’s playing the dual role of a strong-willed songstress and a gentle young lady in “Golden Lotus” (1957) won her the first Best Actress award at the Asian Film Festival. In “Humiliation for Sale” (1958), Lin plays a pleasure-seeking city girl, who also possesses a refreshing charm. In the romantic classic “Love Without End” (1961), Lin won her fourth Best Actress title in the Asian Film Festival with the portrayal of the emotional transitions of the heroine facing many unfortunate turns of events.
 
     Lin also excelled at playing youthful and lively modern city girls, particularly so in light comedies. The “City Girl” section includes three films of hers of the genre, including “The Battle of Love” (1957), the first film scripted by Eileen Chang in Hong Kong, as well as “Lady on the Roof” (1959), adapted from Hsiung Shih-i’s original story, and “Bachelors Beware” (1960), written and directed by Evan Yang. In the films, Lin plays the roles of smart and modern city girls who pursue love boldly. “The Battle of Love” will feature an additional screening of “Footages from Lin Dai’s Wedding” (1961), documenting her wedding from putting on her bridal gown, makeup, and hairstyling to heading to the church. “Bachelors Beware” will feature an additional screening of “Travel with Lin Dai” (1961), capturing Lin’s radiant smile during her trip to Europe.
 
     Lin’s versatile appearance allowed her to shine in both ancient and modern costumes, with her ancient looks being particularly elegant and charming. The “Fatal Beauty” section features four of Lin’s period films, including “Diau Charn” (1958) and “Beyond The Great Wall” (1964). Lin portrays two well-known classical beauties who sacrificed themselves for the country in the two films. Her versatile acting in “Diau Charn” earned her the second Best Actress award at the Asian Film Festival. “The Kingdom and the Beauty” (1959), directed by the renowned Li Han-hsiang, is a classic film based on the folklore of an emperor falling for a beautiful commoner. The film won the Best Picture award at the sixth Asian Film Festival. In “Meng Lisi, Maid of the Jungle” (1961), Lin played a powerful and virtuous martial heroine. The rarely screened film has been digitised by the HKFA, offering audiences a glimpse of Lin’s heroic charm.
 
     The two selected films in the section “Glory of Life” are Lin’s famous musical films, “Les Belles” (1961) and “Love Parade” (1963). “Les Belles”, a grand production by Shaw Brothers, features splendid and delightful dance performances over a thousand dancers. A cheerful and lively Lin performed dazzling Western and Asian dances in the film, earning her the third Best Actress prize at the Asian Film Festival. “Love Parade” is an extravagant contemporary romantic comedy blending songs and dances with fashion.
 
     Except for “Lady on the Roof”, which is dubbed in Cantonese, all others are in Mandarin.
 
     Tickets priced at $35 will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from November 23 (Saturday). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Some of the films will be accompanied by post-screening talks hosted by Dr Winnie Chan, Grace Ng, Sam Ho, Dr Angela Law, and Winnie Fu. For programme details, please visit the HKFA website www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2024/lindai/pe-event-2024-lindai.html or call 2739 2139.

              

     Hong Kong Customs seized about 1 000 pieces of injection vials suspected to contain Part 1 poisons with an estimated market value of about $2 million at Hong Kong International Airport on October 9.

     Through risk assessment, Customs on that day inspected an air consignment consisting of nine boxes, declared as carrying body cream, and arriving in Hong Kong from Italy, at the airport. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of injection vials suspected to contain Part 1 poisons in the consignment.

     After a follow-up investigation, Customs on October 16 arrested a 52-year-old male consignee suspected to be connected with the case, and further seized 37 pieces of injection vials suspected to contain Part 1 poisons at the consignee address.

     An investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/). read more

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 toda… read more