Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

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

     At 3pm today (December 1), protestors commenced a public procession in Tsim Sha Tsui. According to the agreed arrangement, the protestors would march from the Clock Tower to Hong Kong Coliseum via Salisbury Road.

     As some radical protestors passed by Mody Road Garden via Salisbury Road, they hurled bricks at Police officers. Police officers, in response, deployed the minimum necessary force, including tear gas, to stop their illegal acts.

     Police warn the protestors to stop all illegal acts immediately. Police appeal to members of the public to avoid travelling to the areas concerned. Residents in the area are advised to stay tuned to the latest announcements, stay indoors, and keep their windows shut, if necessary.
     

     The Hong Kong Underwater Photo and Video Competition 2019, jointly organised by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Hong Kong Underwater Association, concluded successfully today (December 1) with an award presentation.
 
     "The Hong Kong Underwater Photo and Video Competition has been held since 2012, making this the eighth edition. A total of 720 entries were received this year, which was a record high. The entries fully showcased the beauty of marine habitats and the amazing species in Hong Kong waters, and helped raise public awareness of the importance of marine conservation," an AFCD spokesman said.
 
     The competition was composed of an Open Group and Student Group. Contestants to the Open Group could participate in the Digital Photo Competition and Digital Video Competition. There were two categories in the photo competition, namely the Macro & Close-up Category and the Standard & Wide Angle Category. For the Open Group, in addition to champions and runners-up, there were three special prizes for junior underwater photographers/videographers presented by the judging panel to encourage less-experienced underwater photographers/videographers to participate. Outstanding awards were also given in each category of the Digital Photo Competition. For the Student Group Digital Photo Competition, three special prizes for student underwater photographers were given to encourage their appreciation and protection of Hong Kong's marine ecology and environment.
 
     All entries had to feature marine ecology, habitats or marine life in Hong Kong waters. Digital photos should have been taken in Hong Kong waters within the designated period from 17 September, 2018 to 30 September, 2019, while digital video should have been taken in Hong Kong waters from 17 September, 2017 to 30 September, 2019.
 
     The list of the winners and their winning entries can be viewed at the AFCD's website:  www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/con_mar/con_mar_edu/photo_com_2019.html.
 
     A roving exhibition featuring the winning entries will be held. Details are as follows:
 
Date: December 1
Time: 10am to 6pm
Venue: Atrium, G/F, Domain Mall, Yau Tong
 
Date: December 13 to 15
Time: 10am to 6pm 
Venue: Hall 5G, Diving & Resort Travel Expo (DRT Show Hong Kong), Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai
 
Date: December 19 to 23
Time: 10am to 7pm
Venue: Venue A, L7, Fortune Metropolis, Hung Hom
 
     Members of the public are invited to visit the roving exhibition. For enquiries, please call 1823 or visit the above AFCD website.

                              

     The Department of Justice (DoJ) announced today (December 1) re-appointments to the Committee on Provision of Space in the Legal Hub for 13 months from December 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020.

     Pursuant to the policy objective of enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international legal and dispute resolution centre in the Asia Pacific region, the Government has committed to provide certain space in the West Wing of the former Central Government Offices (CGO) and the former French Mission Building to law-related organisations. Together with the DoJ's offices in the Main Wing, East Wing and part of the West Wing of the former CGO, the area is intended to form a Legal Hub at the heart of Hong Kong.

     The Committee, chaired by the Secretary for Justice, was set up in December 2014 to consider the arrangements in relation to the provision of space in the Legal Hub and to accordingly advise the Secretary for Justice on other implementation details.

     The Committee comprises non-official members from the legal, business and other relevant sectors, as well as representatives from relevant Government departments. Taking into account the progress of the Legal Hub project, members of the Committee are re-appointed for 13 months to continue to advise on the project's development. The membership of the Committee is as follows (with effect from December 1, 2019):

Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, Secretary for Justice (Chairman)
Mr Chan Chak-ming
Mr Stephen Lai Yuk-fai
Dr Eddy Li Sau-hung
Mr Stephen Liang
Ms Kim M Rooney
Representatives of the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office, the Architectural Services Department and the DoJ

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (December 1) that due to special circumstances which may possibly happen nearby, the Hong Kong Museum of History, the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of Art will be closed at 6pm to ensure the safety of venue users and staff members. The department will closely monitor the situation and announce venue arrangements in a timely manner.

     Subject to the situation, more cultural and leisure facilities in the same district and any other districts which may be affected will also be closed early and at short notice to ensure the safety of venue users. Members of the public who plan to go to those venues are advised to contact the venues concerned or 1823 in advance.

     The Human Resources Planning Commission launched a new one-stop online manpower information portal (www.talent.gov.hk) today (December 1). The portal consolidates human resources information and data from different sources with a view to providing more comprehensive information to the local labour force, the younger generation in particular, to assist people to make informed choices in respect of career, training and development pathways.
 
     The Commission, chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, was established in April 2018 to advise the Government on the formulation of comprehensive human resources strategies for Hong Kong to further develop the city into a high value-added and diversified economy. Through consolidating resources and efforts of the Government and various sectors, the Commission helps to examine, review and co-ordinate policies and measures on human resources in a holistic manner.
 
     Mr Cheung said, "Information on human resources is available from various sources but scattered. The Commission therefore decided to co-ordinate a one-stop manpower information portal to provide the local labour force with more convenient access to relevant information so as to facilitate their planning for career development with regard to the prevalent trends of technological advancement and the transformation of industries. Such information is also useful to young people and secondary school students in their life planning, allowing them to harness opportunities for upward mobility and tackle future challenges."
 
     The newly launched manpower information portal comprises the following elements:
 
(i) An integrated occupation database covering more than 300 occupations, including information on key tasks of the occupations, skill requirements and entry requirements;

(ii) A database on local courses listed in the Qualifications Register and large-scale open online courses listed in a major overseas education platform;

(iii) Consolidated listings of government job vacancies and tens of thousands of vacancies from several key local private job boards;

(iv) A monthly online magazine named "Explorer", which introduces trending topics concerning careers and workplaces; and

(v) Career quizzes for users to explore suitable occupations.

     The portal will be updated regularly to ensure the information remains relevant and can reflect the latest market trends.

     The development of the portal is a new initiative announced in the 2019 Policy Address. The Commission will keep monitoring usage of the portal and enhance its design and content as appropriate.