The Civil Aid Service (CAS) Cadet Corps held the 144th New Cadets Passing-out Parade at the CAS Headquarters today (November 16). The parade was reviewed by the Chairman of the Agency for Volunteer Service, Ms Melissa Pang.
          
     Over 170 cadets were reviewed at the parade. Most of them are from schools participating in the 2024-25 School Partnership Scheme.
       
     Speaking at the parade, Ms Pang commended the CAS Cadet Corps for excellent training and active participation in various voluntary services in the community. Moreover, Cadet Corps actively participated in various national education activities and national security education activities, including "Celebration of National Day – A Thousand Youths in Chinese Costumes", Grand Parade by Disciplined Services and Youth Groups cum Fun Day for Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, and visits to the National Security Exhibition Gallery, which enhanced the cadets' understanding of the country and their sense of national identity, together with encouraging them to contribute to the community and motherland in the future.
      
     The Cadet Corps Guard of Honour performed a Chinese-style foot drill and flag-raising ceremony before the parade. The CAS Cadet Corps Bicycle Demonstration Team also staged a performance after the parade for the guests and parents who came to support the new cadets.
      
     Looking forward, the CAS Cadet Corps will further enhance collaboration with schools in different districts, spare no effort in encouraging cadets to participate in community service and discipline training, and continue to promote national education and national security education.
      
     Recruitment of CAS cadets is open for application throughout the year. Recruitment details and application forms are available on the CAS website (www.cas.gov.hk).

        

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta (HKETO Jakarta) supported the participation of Hong Kong designers and comic artists in the "Hong Kong Art Toy Story 2024@Jakarta" event in Jakarta, Indonesia, to promote Hong Kong's creative industries and talent and enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two places.

     The "Hong Kong Art Toy Story 2024@Jakarta", being held in Jakarta from November 15 to 24, features five main sections showcasing over 330 art toy creations by Hong Kong designers. With a view to promoting cross-industry collaboration, the exhibition also includes a special section presenting new art toys created through the first-ever collaboration between six Hong Kong designers and six Hong Kong comic artists.

     Addressing the opening ceremony today (November 16), the Director-General of the HKETO Jakarta, Miss Libera Cheng, said that under the National 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong is strategically positioned as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is taking forward policy measures on all fronts to promote such exchanges. 

     "The 'Hong Kong Art Toy Story 2024 @ Jakarta' marks the second time that the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) has provided funding to the Innovative Entrepreneur Association for staging a large-scale exhibition in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, following the last chapter in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2022. To promote the development of the arts and culture and creative industries of Hong Kong, the CCIDA will support 60 industry mission trips, overseas exhibitions and showcases each year to open up more business opportunities for Hong Kong's arts and cultural and creative industries by assisting them to conduct business negotiations and organise exhibitions and showcases in Mainland and overseas markets," she said.

     She added that the HKSAR Government will continue to promote and expedite the development of Hong Kong's creative industries through the CreateSmart Initiative, incubating more cultural and creative projects with potential for industrialisation, to build Hong Kong as Asia's Creative Capital.

          

Attention TV/radio announcers:

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     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (November 16) that due to big waves, red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches/the beach.

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at Singapore Festival in Hong Kong today (November 16):
      
Consul General (Consul General of Singapore in Hong Kong, Mr Ong Siew Gay), Deputy Commissioner Pan Yundong (Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), former Chief Executives Mrs Carrie Lam and Mr Donald Tsang, Lawrence (Chairman, Singapore Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Mr Lawrence Chia), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
      
     Good afternoon. I am delighted to join you all today for the opening of the third Singapore Festival.
      
     We thank the Singapore Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong for this weekend family fun fair, full of Singaporean food and drinks. There is live music, too, along with dance, games, cooking demos, and face-painting and balloon-twisters for kids of all ages. And it is all happening right here, in the Oasis at Hong Kong's historic Central Market.
      
     Hong Kong and Singapore have long enjoyed good times, and close ties. Singapore has consistently been our largest trading partner in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region.
      
     That is evident in the number of Singaporean companies operating in our city – more than 470 at last count.
      
     Both economies share a rich cultural heritage, a history of trade and economic collaboration, and vibrant expat communities. We enjoy strong people-to-people ties, robust business interactions, and frequent cultural exchanges.
      
     The Asia+ Festival 2024, which kicked off in late September and continues through the end of this month, showcases Asia's rich cultural diversity, highlighting the arts and cultures of nearly 30 Asian and Belt and Road countries and regions. That certainly includes Singapore.
      
     Singaporean composer Lee Jiayi, collaborated with local music and arts groups, stage 28 innovative multimedia performances of her composition "After the Rain" at the Western Salt Water Service Reservoirs – a highlight of this year's Asia+ Festival. 
      
     Equally well-received in Singapore were the performances by Hong Kong performing arts groups, including the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in February as well as the Spring-Time Experimental Theatre in October this year.
      
     Last month, let me add, we hosted the inaugural Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo, which attracted more than 1 600 arts leaders and practitioners from some 60 countries and regions, including artists from Singapore.
      
     The Expo expanded their markets, while showcasing Hong Kong's fast-emerging role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
      
     This happy weekend's Singapore Festival is another welcome illustration of arts and cultural exchange. And it is happening among the best of friends, Hong Kong and Singapore.
      
     I know the people of Hong Kong will enjoy every minute of these two festive days and nights. 
      
     Ladies and gentlemen, I look forward to more creative connections between our two cultures and our two peoples. And I wish the Festival every success.
      
     Thank you very much.

     â€‹The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) conducted an enforcement operation codenamed "Pipepurge" last night (November 15) against illegal waterpipe smoking activities in no-smoking areas in Mongkok.

     During the operation, officers from TACO (including plainclothes officers) issued a total of two fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to persons illegally smoking waterpipes at one bar. TACO's investigation is ongoing, and prosecution may also be taken against operators of the bar who are suspected of contravening the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) (the Ordinance) and the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap. 221) for aiding and abetting smoking offences. TACO will also notify the Liquor Licensing Board of the above-mentioned violation.

     Under the Ordinance, conducting a smoking act in a statutory no-smoking area (such as indoor areas of bars or restaurants) is prohibited. Any person doing a smoking act in statutory no-smoking areas is liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. Moreover, where smoking products (including waterpipes) are sold, in bars or otherwise, the restrictions on the promotion and sale of smoking products stipulated in the Ordinance apply. Offenders are liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000. Venue managers of statutory no-smoking areas are empowered by the Ordinance to request a smoking offender cease the act; if the offender is not co-operative, the manager may contact the Police for assistance.

     Also, under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission by another person of any offence shall be guilty of the like offence. A spokesman for the DH appeals to operators and venue mangers of bars/restaurants not to assist any person in breaching the statutory smoking prohibitions, or provide a waterpipe apparatus and tobacco to customers for use.

     The DH spokesman stressed that TACO will follow up and investigate every complaint about illegal smoking, and will conduct inspections and take enforcement actions in the venue concerned. TACO will also conduct joint inspections and enforcement action (including plainclothes operations) with other law enforcement agencies from time to time with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement. The DH will continue to closely monitor and take stringent enforcement actions to tackle illegal waterpipe smoking. In the past 12 months, TACO conducted 148 operations against illegal waterpipe smoking activities in no-smoking areas. A total of 176 FPNs were issued against smoking offenders, while 88 summonses were issued to staff members and operators of the bars/restaurants for other related offences.  

     The spokesman said that waterpipe is a smoking product, and its combustion of fuel (e.g. charcoal) releases carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas that is a by-product from incomplete combustion of any fuel containing carbon, such as charcoals. Exposure to a low concentration of carbon monoxide can lead to a range of symptoms such as dizziness, headache, tiredness and nausea; whereas exposure to a high concentration of carbon monoxide can lead to impaired vision, disturbed co-ordination, unconsciousness, brain damage or even death. People should seek medical attention immediately if they suspect they are developing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

     Due to deeper inhalation and longer smoking sessions, waterpipe users usually inhale more toxins than they would when smoking cigarettes. A typical one-hour waterpipe smoking session exposes the user to 100 to 200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from a single conventional cigarette. Moreover, sharing a waterpipe apparatus increases the risk of transmitting infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis. Furthermore, areas in bars/restaurants where waterpipes are handled or kept have been found to be unhygienic during previous enforcement operations. The spokesman cautions against waterpipe smoking and the use of other smoking products. Smokers should quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. For more information on the hazards of waterpipe smoking, please visit www.livetobaccofree.hk/pdfs/waterpipe_leaflet_new.pdf.