The Jakarta International Dragon Boat Festival (JIDBF) 2024 sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta (HKETO Jakarta) was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, today (July 13) to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

     Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony, the Director-General of the HKETO Jakarta, Miss Libera Cheng, said that the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races held in Hong Kong last month attracted over 4 000 athletes from around the world, serving as a signature mega event for both Hong Kong and the international dragon boat community. She expressed delight in recognising the JIDBF's devotion to advancing dragon boat activities overseas with the continued support of the HKETO Jakarta.

     "The HKETO Jakarta is committed to fostering Hong Kong's people-to-peoples ties with Indonesia and other countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  In connection with the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, we hope to promote the rich and diverse Chinese culture to the Indonesian community by supporting the JIDBF once again," she added.

     Miss Cheng also said that Hong Kong is forging ahead with its mega-event economy. Over 200 mega events are scheduled to be staged in the city this year, covering not only traditional fields like finance and economic development, but also such areas as arts and culture, creative industries and sports. 

     The JIDBF 2024 was attended by over 1 200 athletes. The HKETO Jakarta also invited two Hong Kong dragon boat teams to take part in the races in Indonesia for the first time, with a view to deepening exchanges among athletes from different places and adding further impetus to the internationalisation of the JIDBF. Both Hong Kong dragon boat teams delivered outstanding performance in the competition.

     Following the collaboration at the Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival in the Philippines in April this year, the HKETO Jakarta joined forces with the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association again to set up an exhibition at the event venue to showcase Hong Kong's history as the birthplace of modern dragon boat races. The HKETO Jakarta also displayed at its booth Hong Kong's mega-event calendar, encouraging the Indonesian community to visit Hong Kong to see the city's vibrancy as a mega-event capital.

     The JIDBF was launched in 2017 with the support of the HKETO Jakarta and has since grown rapidly into a local signature event supported by the Jakarta Provincial Government.

        

     â€‹The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, attended the opening ceremony of the first batch of the training programme for the seventh-term District Council (DC) members at the Shanghai Administration Institute today (July 13). She encouraged members of the Sham Shui Po and Yuen Long DCs participating in the training to study diligently with a view to providing better services to the people.
      
     â€‹The opening ceremony was administered by the Executive Vice President of the Shanghai Administration Institute, Mr Zeng Jun.  Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Mr Wang Linggui, and Vice Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government Mr Hua Yuan attended. Mr Hua welcomed DC members in joining the training programme and introduced the latest developments in Shanghai's economy, co-operation between Shanghai and Hong Kong as well as grassroots governance in Shanghai. Mr Wang said that the Central Government is satisfied with the work of the seventh-term DCs since their taking of office, and urged DC members to continue to keep up the good work in the districts, assisting the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in implementing its policies. Mr Wang hoped DC members could further deepen their understanding of Shanghai, and put forward four expectations of DC members, including reminding them to continuously harness a patriotic mindset, foster a mindset to serve the people, deepen mutual co-operation and learning between Shanghai and Hong Kong, and dedicate to embrace innovation, so to bring the people together in community building.
      
     â€‹Miss Mak said in her remarks that the seventh-term DCs were formed after the improvements to governance at the district level. DC members are charged with a responsibility of enhancing district governance, and should act with an unfailing sense of responsibility at all times and the assurance to deliver in everything they do. In order to enhance DC members' national awareness and understanding of district governance so as to enhance the capabilities in discharging their duties, the Government has arranged for the current-term DC members to undertake training and site visits in batches in Shanghai and Zhejiang Province. The training programme will allow DC members to better understand national developments and experiences in district governance, so that they can put newly acquired knowledge into practice in their future work and better serve the country and Hong Kong. Miss Mak thanked the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Shanghai Municipal People's Government and the Shanghai Administration Institute for organising the training programme for DC members.
      
     â€‹Mr Wang, Mr Hua and Miss Mak had a meeting subsequently.  They exchanged views on the experiences in implementing measures related to district governance in Shanghai and Hong Kong and on how to strengthen collaborations between the two places.
      
     Miss Mak will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (July 14).  Members of the Sham Shui Po and Yuen Long DCs will continue their study and visit programme in Shanghai until July 16.

        

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 13) that the Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Swimming Pool in Yuen Long District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 6.30am tomorrow.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming. 

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 13) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A and COVID-19 infection, and reminded the community to heighten vigilance against respiratory tract infection. The CHP appealed to persons who are symptomatic, even if having mild symptoms, should wear a surgical mask and seek medical advice promptly. Strict personal, hand and environmental hygiene should also be observed at all times.

     The case involves a 3-year-old boy with good past health. He developed fever with cough, runny nose , vomiting and diarrhea since July 10. He sought medical attention at a private doctor on July 11. He was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital yesterday (July 12) due to worsening of symptoms. He was later admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit of the hospital for treatment. His nasopharyngeal swab specimen was positive for influenza A virus and COVID-19 virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A and COVID-19 coinfection complicated with encephalopathy. He is now in critical condition.

     Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. His home contacts are currently asymptomatic.

     A spokesman for the CHP said, "Influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons. Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is one of the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, as well as reducing influenza-related hospitalisation and death. SIV is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive SIV early. The seasonal influenza vaccines for this season will expire starting from July this year and the 2024/25 SIV programme is expected to start in September.

      "Members of the public who have not received the SIV can still get vaccinated before the expiry of the influenza vaccine of this influenza season (i.e. July/August). Nevertheless, please remember that even if you get vaccinated now, you should still take the latest SIV in the new SIV programme (from October this year), so as to be protected during the influenza season in the next year. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on the CHP's website."

     A person who gets influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may be more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. It is important to receive both SIV and COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, in particular for children and elderly persons residing in the community or residential care homes. The public should also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses, and note the following:​
 

• Surgical masks can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;
• For high-risk persons (e.g. persons with underlying medical conditions or persons who are immunocompromised), wear a surgical mask when visiting public places. The public should also wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Avoid touching one's eyes, mouth and nose;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending classes at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, perform physical activity regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.      

     
     The public may visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly COVID-19 & Flu Express for more information. 

     Titled "Rule of Law Education (ROLE) Stars", the two-day foundation course of the second phase of the Rule of Law Education Train-the-Leaders (TTL) Programme organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) was concluded today (July 13).

     The programme was attended by over 100 secondary school teachers who are mainly responsible for teaching courses related to the rule of law, the Constitution, national security education, and Citizenship and Social Development. Representatives from the DoJ and different sectors such as the legal profession and the media served as trainers to teach in the programme and guide the discussions and interactive sessions. A number of trainees said the course content was substantial, easy to understand and practical, which helped strengthen their ability in promoting correct messages on the rule of law to students and young people, aiding them in building a correct global perspective as well as life and personal values.

     Led by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, the second phase of the TTL Programme was launched at the Justice Place last Saturday.

     The second day of the TTL Programme conducted today began with Mr Martin Hui, SC, and Ms Roberta Chan, solicitor, briefing the trainees on topics including the criminal and civil litigation process of the Hong Kong courts, alternative dispute resolution services and the legal profession.

     It was followed by a session in which the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, and experienced media professional Ms Ho Yuen-yi shared their views and practical experience on communication skills in disseminating messages on the rule of law. An interactive session was then held for the trainees to conduct group discussions and exchanges.

     An interactive "Talk to the Secretary for Justice – Question-and-Answer Session" was held in the afternoon, during which Mr Lam had in-depth exchanges with the trainees on topics related to the rule of law. Teachers joining the event actively participated throughout the session. They asked questions enthusiastically and discussed with Mr Lam various topics such as enhancing the students' interests in Hong Kong legal system and the rule of law situation in the country.

     Mr Lam said that to uphold the rule of law, everyone in the community should be a guardian and an advocate of the rule of law. As team leaders of the next generation, teachers will have to go the extra mile among all guardians and advocates. When working on the rule of law education, he said he hoped that participating teachers could have faith that they were not alone, as the Government will do its best to provide assistance. He also encouraged teachers to proactively learn more about the rule of law.

     The graduation ceremony and certificate presentation ceremony of the second-phase programme was also held in the afternoon. Officiating guests of the graduation ceremony, namely Mr Lam; member of the Steering Committee on Rule of Law Education, Chairperson of the Working Group on Coordination and Liaison and Legislative Council Member, Ms Carmen Kan; and the Under Secretary for Education, Mr Sze Chun-fai, delivered concluding remarks at the event.

     The three officiating guests, together with the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, and the Chairperson of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Mr Victor Dawes, SC, presented certificates to trainees who have completed the two-day foundation course of the second-phase programme.

     For more details on the TTL Programme and other information relating to the promotion and training on the rule of law, please visit the dedicated website at www.role-ttl.gov.hk.