Owing to the thunderstorm warning, the flag-raising ceremony to be conducted at Golden Bauhinia Square, Wan Chai at 8am today (June 19) will be cancelled.
     If the thunderstorm warning is cancelled and weather conditions permit by then, the flag-raising ceremony may be resumed without further notice.
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) accords great importance to students' interests, and has placed the welfare of the teachers and students of the Christian Zheng Sheng College (the College) as a top priority. Noting that the newly formed Board of Directors (the Board) of the Christian Zheng Sheng Association (the Association) claimed in its urgent statement on June 12 this year that it would make decisions relating to the College with a responsible attitude, the Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau immediately met with the Board. To our dismay, we found that the Board did not substantiate its claims, and there are reasons to question the truthfulness of its claims that it has cut all ties with its former directors Lam Hay-sing and Alman Chan Siu-cheuk, who have absconded from Hong Kong. There are three points uncovered from the meeting that are worth paying attention to:
(1) The Board claimed that the suspension of the College's operation was due to financial difficulties. However, the Board, after a reorganisation, immediately passed a resolution at its first meeting refusing to recover the funds amounting to over $50 million, which were raised in the name of the College and transferred abroad by Lam Hay-sing and Alman Chan Siu-cheuk earlier. At the meeting, the Board again refused to recover the money concerned, which clearly shows that the Board has no intention to help the teachers and students of the College, and it is suspicious that the Board is trying to harbour the absconders.
(2) On June 12, the Board claimed that it has cut all ties with Lam Hay-sing and Alman Chan Siu-cheuk, and that the two persons have no power to direct the Board's decisions. The fact is that the two wanted persons are still Board members of the "Christian Zheng Sheng College Limited" and/or the "Zheng Sheng Charities Limited" under the Association, and can also operate the bank accounts of the Association and its subsidiaries.
(3) The current Board has taken up office for around two months since mid-April, but has neither proposed any specific measures to resolve the problems faced by the College, nor shown any commitment and capacity to manage the College. As stated in point (1) above, notwithstanding that the College is facing an acute crisis, the Board refused to recover the funds from the two absconders Lam Hay-sing and Alman Chan Siu-cheuk, which was raised in the name of the College in Hong Kong earlier. Instead, the Board passed a questionable resolution and issued an inaccurate statement to mislead the public.
The Board has not fulfilled its role and duty, and harbours wrongdoers. The HKSAR Government strongly condemns the vile actions of the Board and has completely lost faith in it. Relevant government departments would provide the most appropriate assistance and arrangements for students who are leaving the College, and law enforcement agencies would investigate in, and follow up on, matters concerning the Association and the College in accordance with the law.
Following the conclusion of the Territory-wide Identity Card Replacement Exercise (Replacement Exercise) on March 3 last year, the Government announced today (June 18) that the old form of smart identity cards issued before November 26, 2018 (old ID cards) (Note), will be invalidated in two phases in 2025.
Phase I of the invalidation exercise will cover holders of old ID cards born in 1970 or after, whose old cards will become invalid on May 12, 2025. Phase II of the invalidation exercise will cover holders of old ID cards born in 1969 or before, whose old cards will become invalid on October 12, 2025.
In this connection, the Registration of Persons (Invalidation of Identity Cards) Order 2024 (Invalidation Order) will be published in the Gazette on June 21, and tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on June 26.
The Invalidation Order covers all Hong Kong residents, whether they are permanent residents or non-permanent residents who are permitted to take up employment, make investments, reside or study in Hong Kong, or residents of residential care homes who are eligible for the On-site Identity Card Replacement Service. If the old ID cards have not been replaced, they will be invalidated on the specified dates in accordance with the Invalidation Order.
"Residents still holding old ID cards should make appointments for replacement as soon as possible (see Annexes I and II for samples of old and new ID cards respectively). For those who are unable to have their ID cards replaced during the specified call-up periods due to being absent from Hong Kong, they should replace their ID cards within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong. Failure to apply for a new ID card within the specified call-up periods without a reasonable excuse is an offence. Offenders may be prosecuted and be liable to a fine of $5,000 upon conviction," a spokesman for the Immigration Department (ImmD) said.
The aged, the blind or the infirm who satisfy a registration officer that their personal attendance for registration of Hong Kong ID cards will injure their health or the health of others may, instead of applying for replacement of a new ID card, apply for a Certificate of Exemption.
The invalidation of old ID cards will not affect the right of abode in Hong Kong of the holders of old ID cards unless he or she has lost permanent resident status under the Immigration Ordinance.
Members of the public can apply for replacement of new ID cards at the Registration of Persons (ROP) – Kwun Tong (Temporary) Office or during the extended service hours at the four designated ROP offices, viz. Hong Kong Office, Kowloon Office, Tseung Kwan O Office or Tuen Mun Office. Please refer to Annex III for the addresses and working hours of these offices.
Members of the public may scan the QR codes (see Annex IV) to download the ImmD mobile application, visit the website (www.gov.hk/icbooking) or call the 24-hour telephone booking hotline 2598 0888 to make an appointment for ID card application at any aforementioned ROP offices.
For details of the relevant arrangements, please visit the ImmD website (www.immd.gov.hk). For enquiries, please contact the ImmD by enquiry hotline (2824 6111), by fax (2877 7711) or by email (enquiry@immd.gov.hk).
Note: Old form of smart identity cards refer to smart identity cards issued between June 23, 2003 and November 25, 2018, or issued on or after November 26, 2018 as a result of an application made before that date.
The Civil Service College (CSC), in collaboration with the Institute for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, Peking University, held the concluding lecture of the in-depth programme on "one country, two systems" and contemporary China at the Central Government Offices today (June 18). The Dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University, Professor Lin Yifu, was invited to elucidate how, amidst profound changes unseen in a century, new quality productive forces can be harnessed to fulfill the two major tasks – Chinese modernisation and high-quality development as outlined at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Around 170 senior officials, including politically appointed officials and directorate officers, attended the lecture.
Addressing the lecture, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, said that the development of new quality productive forces is closely linked to Hong Kong's better integration into the country's overall development and the Government Work Report this year clearly prioritises "striving to modernise the industrial system and developing new quality productive forces at a faster pace" as the first major task. The report also outlines a comprehensive plan across various fronts of the country's agenda, providing clear guidance for Hong Kong as it embraces new responsibilities and breaks new ground on the new journey towards Chinese modernisation and high-quality development. He also encouraged colleagues attending the lecture to reflect on how to better consolidate and promote Hong Kong's distinctive advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle and the strategic positioning of the "eight centres", so as to better capitalise on Hong Kong's strengths to serve the country's needs.
The lecture was closely followed by a graduation ceremony officiated by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, and Vice President of Peking University Professor Fang Fang. A total of 71 participants who had successfully completed the programme were awarded certificates of completion jointly issued by Peking University and the CSC. Mrs Yeung and the Director of the Institute for Hong Kong and Macau Studies at Peking University, Professor Chen Duanhong, addressed the ceremony, with the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Leung, and the Head of the Civil Service College, Mr Oscar Kwok, also in attendance.
Addressing the ceremony, Mrs Yeung expressed her gratitude to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and Peking University for their support for the programme. Congratulating all the participants on their successful completion of the programme, she encouraged them to apply the knowledge and insights gained from this series of 12 lectures to their work and stay united to complement the HKSAR Government in giving full play to Hong Kong's unique strengths for better integration into the country's overall development, jointly contributing to the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems".
The programme was organised to further strengthen training for senior officials and directorate civil servants. It consists of 12 monthly lectures covering a wide range of topics, such as the Communist Party of China and contemporary China, socialism with Chinese characteristics, the theory and practice of "one country, two systems", as well as developments in contemporary Chinese society, economy, national defence, technology, and more. Distinguished scholars from the Mainland delivered the programme and engaged in in-depth discussions with participants. The number of senior officials and directorate officers attending the programme's lectures in person and online was about 2 100.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (June 18) investigating a probable locally acquired case of dengue fever (DF), and again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.
The patient is a 54-year-old female with underlying illnesses. She developed fever and retro-orbital pain since June 6 and consulted a private doctor on June 9. She attended the accident and emergency department of Tin Shui Wai Hospital on June 11, and was admitted for treatment on the same day. She was transferred to Pok Oi Hospital for further treatment on June 14. She is now in stable condition. Her blood sample tested positive for dengue virus upon laboratory testing.
Initial enquiries revealed that the patient lives in Tin Shui (1) Estate in Tin Shui Wai. As she only left Hong Kong for a few hours and otherwise stayed in Hong Kong for the whole incubation period, the case was probable locally acquired. Her home contact is currently asymptomatic and has been put under medical surveillance.
No epidemiological linkage has been found so far between this case and other previously recorded dengue fever cases in Hong Kong.
"The DH is working closely with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) to assess and prevent a possible spread of infection. The FEHD's vector investigations, surveillance and control are ongoing. The CHP's epidemiological investigations will continue," a spokesman for the CHP said.
Officers of the CHP have inspected the patient's residence and will conduct field investigations of neighbouring residents by questionnaire surveys.
Persons who have been to Tin Shui (1) Estate in Tin Shui Wai with DF symptoms should call the CHP's hotline (2125 2374) which will operate starting from tomorrow (June 19), Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 9am to 5pm, for laboratory investigations or referrals as appropriate. Furthermore, the CHP will hold a health talk jointly with the FEHD at 6pm tomorrow in the Tin Shui Community Centre, during which the CHP will also conduct free DF antibody tests for people in the district with relevant symptoms.
"Letters will be issued to local doctors and hospitals to alert them to the latest situation," the spokesman added.
This is the second local DF case recorded this year. Meanwhile, as at June 13, 26 imported DF cases had been recorded this year.
"Apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor," a spokesman for the CHP said.
The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the DF pages of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.