Police today (January 18) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Kwai Chung.

     Cheng Ying-lung, aged 40, went missing after he left his residence in Kwai Chung Estate on December 31, 2023. His family made a report to Police on January 9.
         
     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 81 kilograms in weight and of fat build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1173 or 5683 7041 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.   

  

     The Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (January 18) held the "Cherish Water Campus" Award Ceremony for the 2022/23 school year to commend the efforts in and contributions to fostering a water conservation culture in schools by school sponsoring bodies, principals, teachers and students. Prize presenters at the ceremony included the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Tony Yau; Principal Education Officer of the Education Bureau Miss Yvonne Lam; and Vice Chairperson of the Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association Ms Polly Chan.

     The "Cherish Water Campus" Integrated Education Programme has been well received by the education sector since it was rolled out in 2015. In the 2022/23 school year, over 400 primary schools and 450 kindergartens have joined the programme, hitting the record-high participation number. At the ceremony, 221 prizes, including Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards of Outstanding Schools in 18 Districts, Water Conservation Star Award, Grand Champion and Excellent School Sponsoring Body Award, were presented to over 50 schools and 80 students.

     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Yau said in 1960s, severe water rationing measures were imposed on Hong Kong owing to a disastrous drought. Thanks to the country's care and support, the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Scheme was completed swiftly and Dongjiang water has been imported to Hong Kong since 1965, resolving Hong Kong's long-term insufficiency of water resources. However, in meeting the challenges of climate change to water supply reliability, Mr Yau encouraged students not only to bear in mind that the precious water supply cannot be taken for granted but also stay alert to possible threats ahead that warrant the need to develop a virtue of cherishing water. Moreover, in recent years the WSD has been developing new water sources, namely desalinated water, reclaimed water and treated grey water, to safeguard water supply reliability.

     The WSD has been striving to promote water conservation to the public through various channels. The "Cherish Water Campus" Integrated Education Programme aims to strengthen students' awareness that water is precious through a series of teaching materials on "Cherish Water Resources" delivered in an interactive and interesting teaching approach and to enable students to put the principle of water conservation into practice in their daily lives with a view to developing good water-saving habits.

     The list of the primary schools in 18 districts receiving gold awards is in the attachment. Full award lists of primary schools and kindergartens have been uploaded to the WSD website.

    

     â€‹The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 18) that in view of a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Somogy County in Hungary, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Hungary for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 270 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Hungary in the first nine months of last year. 

     "The CFS has contacted the Hungarian authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     The Government has launched a newly designed promotional logo for government bureaux and departments to adopt on various publicity materials so as to introduce government-funded projects to the public in a more comprehensive manner, gaining their support for the Government and its partners and encouraging their participation, thereby enhancing their sense of belonging and happiness.
 
     The Director of Information Services, Mr Fletch Chan, said at the launch event of the new promotional logo today (January 18) that the Government is committed to providing a wide range of quality public services. Apart from those activities organised by government bureaux and departments, it has also supported social and non-governmental organisations to arrange services, events and programmes with subsidies or other supportive means to benefit the public. Through the application of the new promotional logo, it will be easier for the public to recognise projects that are supported or endorsed by the Government.
 
     Mr Chan said that these government-funded projects have been covering facilities of livelihood, youth development, social welfare services, major events of culture, sports and tourism, etc. It aims to consolidate the power among the Government, the business sector, the community, etc, and to introduce fresh thinking and new impetus to bring positive impact to society. It also manifests the Government's full implementation of the policy initiatives of caring about the people, pursuing economic growth and working efficiently.
 
     At the launch event, the Chief Executive of the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon, Ms Alice Lau; the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Limited, Mrs Patricia Lau; the Director of the Richmond Fellowship of Hong Kong, Dr Fung Cheung-tim, and the Commissioner for Sports, Mr Sam Wong, introduced projects supported by the Government, namely the Sham Shui Po Community Living Room, the Transitional Housing Project at United Court, Tung Tau, Yuen Long, the 18111 – Mental Health Support Hotline and major sports events, respectively.
 
     The new promotional logo was designed by the Information Services Department using "door always open", the architectural features of the Central Government Offices, as a primary concept, which brings out the Government's adherence to an open-minded attitude. Its semi-three dimensional design with a subtle tilt features the Government's dynamism and its proactive approach to addressing the diverse needs of the public.
 
     To meet different requirements and enhance overall publicity impact, the message on the new promotional logo will be adjusted according to the nature of different services, events and programmes.
 
     The new promotional logo will continue to be shown on the publicity materials of suitable services, events and programmes, including banners, backdrops, posters, leaflets, websites, digital presentation, and promotional videos.
 
     To enhance the publicity of the new promotional logo, the Information Services Department will organise a roving exhibition for staging on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and the New Territories from next Monday (January 22) to March 26. Details of the exhibition are as follows:
 

        

     The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in December 2023 showed a drop of 505 cases, representing a decrease of 0.3 per cent compared with that of November, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department today (January 18).
      
     The total CSSA caseload at the end of December stood at 200 400 (see attached table), with a total of 273 941 recipients.
      
     Analysed by case nature, low-earnings cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 1.2 per cent to 1 581 cases. Single parent cases decreased by 0.8 per cent to 20 497 cases. Unemployment cases dropped by 0.7 per cent to 17 184 cases. Old age cases declined by 0.2 per cent to 112 344 cases.
      
     Ill-health cases registered an increase of 0.2 per cent to 27 727 cases. Permanent disability cases remained steady at 17 172 cases.