The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB) is inviting applications under the 2019 Children's Rights Education Funding Scheme (the Scheme). The deadline for application is October 31, 2018.

     A spokesman for the CMAB said today (September 3), "The Government is committed to working together with community organisations to promote the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and enhance the public's understanding of children's rights." 

     Enthusiastic support from organisations for the Scheme has been received in every round of applications since the establishment of the Scheme in 2006. The community activities funded under the Scheme are targeted at different social groups, and have enhanced the public's awareness of children's rights. So far, the Scheme has funded over 300 projects carried out by various non-government organisations, including community organisations, children's groups, ethnic minority groups, and secondary and primary schools.

    The Scheme in 2019 continues to offer sponsorships under the "General Project" and "Theme Project" categories. Projects sponsored under the "Theme Project" category shall adopt "Growing Up in a Fulfilling Childhood with Care and Inclusion" as the theme. Through organising different types of activities or services, applicants may encourage children with diverse backgrounds and special needs to proactively participate in community activities together, thereby facilitating mutual understanding and acceptance amongst children. The Government aims to encourage and enable more community organisations to undertake educational projects to enhance stakeholders' understanding of the children's rights enshrined in the Convention.
  
     Application forms are available from the website of the CMAB(www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/child_funding.htm). For enquiries, please contact the Children's Rights Unit of the CMAB at 3655 4179.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will depart for Guangzhou in the evening on September 4 to attend the 12th Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation and Development Forum and Trade Fair (PPRD Forum) to be held the next day. The Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Andy Chan, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will join the visit.

     Mrs Lam will address the opening ceremony of the PPRD Forum and join a dialogue session to exchange views with the chief executives of Pan-Pearl River Delta provinces/regions and guests. She will also attend a joint conference with the chief executives of Pan-Pearl River Delta provinces/regions and have bilateral meetings with some of the Mainland's provincial leaders.
 
     In addition, Mrs Lam will attend the fifth Hong Kong Legal Services Forum in Guangzhou organised by the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and other organisations, and give a keynote speech at the luncheon.

     Mrs Lam will return to Hong Kong in the evening on September 5. During her absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will be Acting Chief Executive.

     Hongkong Post today (September 3) announced that Lok Fu Post Office, located at Shop No. 3152, 3/F, Lok Fu Place, Lok Fu Estate, Wang Tau Hom, will be temporarily closed from September 10 to October 6 for major maintenance works. The post office will resume services on October 8 after completion of the maintenance work.
 
     During the closed period, a mobile post office will be deployed at the parking space adjacent to Wang Yat House, Lok Fu Estate (near the entrance of Lok Fu Market) to provide the following postal services to the residents in the vicinity:
 

• PayThruPost service (excluding payment of fixed penalties);
• Sale of stamps; and
• Acceptance of ordinary mail, registered mail, Local CourierPost mail and Speedpost/Parcel mail.

     The business hours of the mobile post office are as follows:-
 

     
     A temporary posting box will also be set up near the mobile post office to facilitate the general public to post mail.
 
     Mail items to be collected at Lok Fu Post Office will be diverted to Wong Tai Sin Post Office, located at Shop No. 2, G/F, Lung Lok House, Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate, for customers’ collection.

     Customers are advised to visit Wong Tai Sin Post Office or other post offices for other postal services.
 
     For more information, please visit the Hongkong Post website at www.hongkongpost.hk or call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222.
 

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Chai Wan today (September 2) in which a 61-year-old man died.

     At about 12.26pm, a bus driven by a 54-year-old man was travelling along Shek O Road towards Chai Wan, while a private car driven by a 61-year-old man was travelling along Shek O Road towards Shek O. When reaching near Cape D’Aguilar, the private car reportedly cut the lane and collided with the bus.

     In the accident, the private car driver and a 24-year-old passenger were trapped inside the compartment, and were rescued by firemen. Sustaining serious neck and leg injuries, the 61-year-old man was rushed to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 1.26 pm. The 24-year-old man sustained hand and leg injuries and was sent to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in conscious state for treatment.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Hong Kong Island is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3660 6849 or 3660 6800.

     Correctional officers stopped a 34-year-old female person in custody attempting suicide by hanging at Lo Wu Correctional Institution today (September 2).

     At 12.10pm today, a correctional officer found the person in custody attempting suicide by hanging herself with brassiere tied to the grille bars of the cell. The officer immediately called for reinforcement and stopped the act. The person in custody was found conscious and was subsequently sent to a public hospital for further examination and treatment. A clinical psychologist of the department will follow up on the case.

     A spokesman for the Correctional Services Department said, "The department uses all possible measures to prevent persons in its custody from attempting suicide or self-harm. These measures include administrative arrangements, the improvement of institution facilities, staff training and first aid services."

     The person in custody was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of Breach of Condition of Stay in August 2018.