Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the 2024 Colloquium on International Law today (July 5):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good afternoon. It is my privilege to join you today at this esteemed annual colloquium on international law, which has always been a wonderful platform for fruitful exchanges amongst all those interested in the development of international law.

     First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Asian Academy of International Law (AAIL), the AAIL Foundation and the Chinese Society of International Law for organising this meaningful event and for inviting me to deliver this keynote speech.

(I) Background on the Five Principles

     The theme of this Colloquium today is "Asia's Contribution to Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence: Past and Future". Having listened to the insightful speeches delivered by our distinguished speakers on the topic this morning, I am very sure these Principles are no longer strangers to any of you.

     To recap, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are: first, mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty; second, mutual non-aggression; third, mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs; fourth, equality and mutual benefit; and lastly, peaceful coexistence.

     While the Principles were initiated 70 years ago, they still play an influential and indispensable role under the international and national legal order today. For instance, the Five Principles have been enshrined in the preamble to the Chinese Constitution and reiterated in Article 4 of the Law on Foreign Relations of China enacted not too long ago.

(II) Asia's Contribution – the Past

     On the international plane, the Five Principles have been accepted and further extended at the Bandung Conference in April 1955 by Asian and African States. They have also been incorporated into various bilateral and multilateral agreements and have been endorsed by numerous countries and international organisations.

     For example, the tenets of the Five Principles were incorporated in a resolution on peaceful coexistence presented by India, Yugoslavia and Sweden, and unanimously adopted on December 11, 1957, by the United Nations General Assembly. In 1961, the Conference of Non-Aligned Nations in Belgrade also accepted the Five Principles as the principled core of the Non-Aligned Movement.

     It is noteworthy that the Five Principles align closely with the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, which emphasises mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and peaceful coexistence.

     As President Xi mentioned during his important speech at the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in Beijing last Friday, and I quote, "the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have set a historic benchmark for international relations and international rule of law. They fully conform with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, with the evolving trend of international relations of our times, and with the fundamental interests of all nations."

(III) Asia's Contribution – the Future

     Although 70 years have passed since the formulation of the Five Principles, they have withstood the test of time and remained highly relevant in the modern world.

     Asia, with its rich and diverse cultural heritage, is well positioned to continue to contribute to the wider acceptance of the Five Principles by further practicing them when forging international relations across borders.

     There are various ways through which Asian jurisdictions may continue to capitalise on these Principles for collective advancement.

(A) Belt and Road Initiative

     First of all, Asian countries' continual participation in regional initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) exemplifies the spirit of the Five Principles.

     As discussed by the distinguished speakers in the morning session of this Colloquium, the BRI seeks to develop integrated trade corridors across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, covering more than 150 countries.

     Just as President Xi mentioned in his speech last week, and I quote, "all countries, regardless of their size, strength and wealth, are equal members of the international community", with common interests, rights and responsibilities in international affairs and should work together for a shared future. In the same spirit, Asian states with a shared future and intertwined interests, may, through taking part in projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, continue to connect with each other and enjoy mutual benefits.

     In this regard, Hong Kong, China, as an international financial centre, not only acts as a nexus for cross-border project financing, but also plays the role of an international legal and dispute resolution service centre as well as a capacity-building hub for foreign-related legal affairs.

International legal and dispute resolution centre

     Specifically, under the principle of "one country, two systems", the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong SAR) has the benefits of an independent and reliable legal system, strong rule of law and a large pool of legal talent specialising in the provision of legal and dispute-resolution services. Under our robust legal system, our talent provide diverse and comprehensive services to all sorts of investors engaged in trade and investment under the Belt and Road Initiative, such as arbitration and mediation services.

     For example, the Asian African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre opened its doors in 2022 to investors, including those involved in BRI-related disputes, to offer them cost-effective and time-efficient dispute resolution mechanisms, be it physical, online or hybrid mode.

     Moreover, lawtech services are readily available in our city. Examples include the online dispute resolution (ODR) platform offered by eBRAM from Hong Kong, China, which provides secure platforms for the resolution of commercial and investment disputes involving Belt and Road countries through online negotiation, mediation and arbitration, for parties around the world.

Capacity-building centre

     Further, the Hong Kong SAR strives to establish itself as a leading capacity-building centre for foreign-related legal affairs.

     Over the years, Hong Kong has hosted or organised various capacity-building activities, including training workshops for both local and foreign legal experts, such as the 4th Investment Law and Investor-State Mediation Training co-organised by the Department of Justice, the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution and the AAIL, which was held most recently from May 31 to June 1, 2024. Throughout the four editions of this event, over 200 participants from 38 jurisdictions have learnt from top-notch trainers and gained invaluable insights from the discussions and interactive exercises with their fellow participants.

     Hong Kong also promotes capacity building by supporting the China-AALCO Exchange and Research Program on International Law, which provides annual training courses for delegates from AALCO members. In fact, this Colloquium constitutes the Hong Kong part of the seventh training session of the Program, which is organised by AAIL with the support of the Department of Justice.

     It is also worth mentioning that the first edition of The Hague Academy of International Law's Advanced Course in Hong Kong was held in December last year, benefiting over 40 participants from about 20 jurisdictions around the world. We are planning to support the second edition this year.

     Looking forward, the Hong Kong SAR will step up its efforts in enhancing collaboration with different international organisations in the field of capacity building, through the establishment of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy as announced under the Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address. The Academy will regularly organise practical training courses, seminars, international exchange programmes, etc to promote exchanges across borders, including amongst jurisdictions in the Belt and Road region. It is envisaged that the Academy will help promote mutual understanding on the international, regional and national legal systems, contributing to the practical application of the Five Principles by fostering mutual respect and understanding.

(B) Partnerships in Trade Relations

     Secondly, building partnerships in trade relations is another way to foster mutual development and contribute to the Vision of Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind in the spirit of peaceful coexistence, attaining the ideals of an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, as envisioned by President Xi in his speech last Friday.

     In particular, through various economic and trade partnerships, Asian countries will continue to grow together and integrate into the regional industrial value chain for collective benefits.

     Again, under the principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong has been using its name of "Hong Kong, China" to participate in bilateral and regional trade and investment partnerships under the framework of the World Trade Organization, WTO. It has concluded over 20 investment promotion and protection agreements, including such Asian countries as Japan, Republic of Korea and Thailand. It also signed a free trade agreement and an investment agreement with the 10 member states of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in late 2017, and is actively seeking early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the RCEP.

     Further, international organisations such as ASEAN and APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) foster regional dialogues and strengthen co-operation amongst Asian countries. Again, Hong Kong, China, has been actively participating in these forums and contributing to the holistic regional growth.

     These trade partnerships and collaborative efforts continue to create synergies and mutual benefits for all economies concerned, contributing to the application of the Five Principles in the economic realm.

(C) Mediation

     Finally, peaceful resolution of international disputes is also an important element under the Five Principles. President Xi also highlighted in his address last Friday that the Five Principles, and I quote, "offer a new path toward peaceful settlement of historic issues and international disputes, triumphing over obsolete, narrow-minded, antagonistic and confrontational mindsets such as bloc politics and sphere of influence."

     In this regard, mediation can play a pivotal role, which has a long history in Asia, and there is growing global recognition for mediation as an effective means to resolve disputes amicably. Indeed, Article 33 of the United Nations Charter explicitly states that mediation and conciliation are important means of peaceful settlement of international disputes.

     Asian countries, with their strong cultural preference for peaceful resolution of disputes, continue to be one of the driving forces for the growing adoption of mediation in times of conflict, including the use of mediation for cross-border disputes.

     Hong Kong has also been actively promoting the use of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism locally, regionally and internationally, in the spirit of peaceful and efficient settlement of disputes.

     Within the city, the Department of Justice has been running a campaign known as the "Mediate First" Pledge for many years to promote the use of mediation to resolve disputes in Hong Kong. The Chief Executive has also announced in the Policy Address 2023 the initiative to deepen the mediation culture by enhancing the mediation system.

     Regionally, Hong Kong, China, has opted into the APEC Collaborative Framework for ODR of Cross-Border Business-to-Business Disputes since 2020. Under the Framework, ODR providers such as Hong Kong's eBRAM would first offer online negotiation and mediation services in the first and second stages of the procedure, and only when disputes remain unresolved after these two phases would they be arbitrated.

     Internationally, my colleagues have been participating actively as part of the Chinese delegation in the UNCITRAL Working Group III on ISDS Reform. In particular, Hong Kong has hosted the Working Group III pre-Intersessional meeting in 2020 and Intersessional meeting in 2021, contributing to the successful adoption of the UNCITRAL Guidelines on Mediation for International Investment Disputes last year.

     Recently, with the staunch support from the Central People's Government to strengthen Hong Kong as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia Pacific region under the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Greater Bay Area Development Plan, the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) Preparatory Office was established in the Hong Kong SAR in 2023 and the Organization will be headquartered in Hong Kong upon its establishment.

     The IOMed will be the first international inter-governmental legal organisation in the world specialising in settlement of international disputes by mediation that provides friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services for international disputes, and will be a useful supplement to the existing dispute resolution institutions and means of dispute resolution, providing a new platform for the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

     The Hong Kong SAR will continue to contribute to the development of peaceful settlement mechanisms that embody the spirit of the Five Principles.

(IV) Looking Forward

     As we look into the future, it is clear that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence will continue to offer valuable guidance to Asia and the world for building meaningful and harmonious international relations. It is indeed our collective responsibility to continue to promote the Five Principles to ensure a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world for our future generations.

     History shows us that Asia has set a great example that it is possible to collaborate for mutual growth and prosperity. As President Xi has reiterated in his speech, "China's resolve to promote common development across the world will not change." In this connection, through contributing to collaboration under initiatives such as the BRI, and acting as an international legal and dispute resolution centre as well as a capacity-building hub in the region, the Hong Kong SAR's efforts will continue to contribute to the upholding of the Five Principles, which I believe will live on for the common good of all in the years to come.

     On this note, I wish you all a very fruitful time at the Colloquium exploring how the spirit of the Five Principles continues to shape developments in Asia and beyond in a positive manner.

     Have an enjoyable luncheon and a pleasant afternoon. Thank you.

  

     The Government received a total of 2 807 requests for information under the Code on Access to Information in the fourth quarter of 2023, a spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said today (July 5).
      
     The total number of requests received since the introduction of the Code in March 1995 and up to the end of December 2023 amounted to 122 228. Of these, 7 335 requests were subsequently withdrawn by the requestors and 6 104 requests covered cases in which the bureaux/departments concerned did not hold the requested information or cannot confirm or deny the existence of information. As at December 31, 2023, 572 requests were still being processed by bureaux/departments.

     Among the 108 217 requests which covered information held by bureaux/departments and which the bureaux/departments had responded to, 105 040 requests (97.1 per cent) were met, either in full (102 156 requests) or in part (2 884 requests), and 3 177 requests (2.9 per cent) were refused.

     Any member of the public who is dissatisfied with the response of a bureau/department under the Code may request that the matter be reviewed. He or she may also lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman.

     In the fourth quarter of 2023, the Ombudsman received 19 complaints relating to requests for information. In this quarter, the Ombudsman concluded 15 complaints, among which two were partially substantiated, 11 were concluded by inquiries (including two cases with inadequacies found), and two were assessed and closed. As at December 31, 2023, the Ombudsman’s investigations on 20 complaints were ongoing.

     "The Code has provided an effective framework for the public to seek access to information held by the Government," the spokesman said.

     â€‹The Chairman of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board (HKMPB) and the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, continued his visit to Tokyo today (July 5) with a maritime delegation.
      
     They visited numerous enterprises over two days including those involved in marine insurance, ship finance, trading and major liner shipping. They also met with representatives of the Japan Ship Owners' Mutual Protection & Indemnity Association to promote Hong Kong's high value-added maritime services and the work of the Hong Kong Shipping Registry, with a view to attracting local companies to establish and expand their presence in Hong Kong.
      
     Mr Lam said, "Hong Kong is a prominent international maritime centre (IMC) and a transshipment hub port in the Asia Pacific region. Our efficient ports, high-quality maritime services and excellent business environment make us an ideal location for international maritime enterprises to start or expand their businesses.
      
     "The 14th Five-Year Plan has supported the development of Hong Kong as an IMC. We also launched the Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy at the end of last year to inject perpetual impetus into the development of the maritime industry. With the country's staunch support and our commitment to continuously developing the comprehensive strength of Hong Kong's maritime industry, we will continue to consolidate our position as an IMC with perseverance and resilience," he added.
      
     The delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, Mr Wu Jianghao, yesterday (July 4) to brief him on the latest developments of Hong Kong's maritime industry.
      
     Mr Lam and the delegation concluded the visit today and returned to Hong Kong this evening.

              

     The inaugural Chinese Culture Festival (CCF), organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), has designated Shanghai as its focal city this year, and has invited two leading art groups, the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company and the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, to come to Hong Kong and stage opera and music performances for five consecutive days starting August 2. The performances will showcase the unique charm of Shanghai-style culture as well as pass down the fine traditional Chinese culture in the context of breaking new ground while upholding fundamental principles. In addition, a series of extension activities will be held to provide a platform for culture lovers from Shanghai and Hong Kong to appreciate the arts and share their experiences.
 
Peking opera programme: Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company (August 2 to 4)
———————————————————————————————
 
     After a hiatus of five years, the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company will present the classic play "The House of Wulong" of the Qi School and the Shanghai-style Peking opera "Seven Heroes and Five Gallants" at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre from August 2 to 4. "The House of Wulong", which originated from "The Water Margin", is a work of Peking opera maestro Zhou Xinfang (stage name Qilintong) who is famous for the vivid portrayal of his personas. In the story, Song Jiang rescues Yan Xijiao, who has put herself up for sale to give her father a burial. Song Jiang takes her as a concubine, but they later turn against each other. Chen Shaoyun (as Song Jiang in the second half of the play), the esteemed performing artist of the Qi School and a recipient of the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award (Plum Blossom Award), will lead national-class performers Lu Su (as Song Jiang in the first half of the play) and Yang Yang (as Yan Xijiao) to bring the play's richly detailed characters to life on stage. Chen Shaoyun has mastered the distinctive styles of the Qi School, and portrays Song Jiang's character and emotions with great delicacy. The excerpt, "Killing Xijiao", is the climax of the play with a fast pace and a condensed plot. Opera fans should not miss this rare opportunity to savour the thrill of witnessing the master's spectacular performance.    

     The troupe will also stage the full-length serial opera of "Seven Heroes and Five Gallants" for the first time in Hong Kong for two consecutive days. This play recreates the exquisite set design and showcases the various skills of the actors in both civil and military highlights. The story is adapted from the novel "Three Heroes and Five Gallants". In Part One of the play, Zhan Zhao is courted by the Song Emperor and is given a royal title of "Imperial Cat", thus angering Bai Yutang the "Brocade-Coated Rat", who wants to engage him in a duel. In Part Two, Bai Yutang, together with Judge Bao's apprentice Yan Chasan and other heroes, set out to punish the rebellious Prince of Xiangyang, Zhao Jue. Fu Xiru (as Bai Yutang in Part One and Yan Chasan in Part Two), renowned as the "most handsome laosheng (old male role)" and a winner of the Plum Blossom Award, will join forces with Hao Shuai (as Zhan Zhao in Part One and Bai Yutang in Part Two), National Class One performer and leading wusheng (martial male) actor of the troupe, as well as other outstanding young actors to present this performance. A tour de force of Shanghai-style Peking opera for its elaborate staging and featuring the full range of roles, this work not only features Qi-style vocal passages, but also a display of "liantan", an extended vocal passage shared by seven actors, which is distinctly Shanghainese. The highlighted episodes "A Fish Feast that Leads to Sworn Brotherhood", "Night Talk in the Field Headquarters" and "Meeting in an Inn" are vivid portrayals of the characters' personalities and emotions, in particular their heroic spirits.
 
"New Oriental Chinese Music Scene" by Shanghai Chinese Orchestra (August 5 and 6)
—————————————————————————————————–
 
     Under the baton of internationally acclaimed conductor Tang Muhai, the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra will visit Hong Kong again after a hiatus of 12 years, and present its most well-known classic music brand "New Oriental Chinese Music Scene" (concert version) by national-class musicians. The two concerts combine the delicate elegance of Jiangnan silk and bamboo music with the grandeur of ethnic orchestral music. Programme highlights include "Spirit of Chinese Calligraphy", presenting the profound artistic realm of Chinese calligraphy with various playing techniques; "Chu-Han War" that depicts the significant historical battle between the kingdoms of Chu and Han; "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" with a melancholy and ethereal rhythm, which is created by composer Tan Dun for the film of same name; "Caterpillar Fungus" that celebrates an endless life; "Czárdás", a concerto for erhu, depicting the intense feeling of deep autumn; the two Chinese orchestral works, "Silk Road" and "National Music Ode to China", depicting different styles from the flavour of Western regions to the deepest praise of the motherland, fully embodying the artistic characteristics of openness and inclusiveness in Shanghai-style Chinese music.
 
     The "New Oriental Chinese Music Scene" is a refreshing mix of classic melodies and new arrangements, bringing audiences an extraordinary impression of Chinese music. It has been performed over 100 times in major concert halls around the world, and has been well received by audiences at home and abroad. This time, the Hong Kong concerts are further highlighted with the presence of renowned conductor Tang Muhai. Tang is now serving as the Conductor Emeritus of the China National Symphony Orchestra and the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra. He is also the first Resident Conductor for the China Shanghai International Arts Festival. Tang rose to international prominence in 1983 when he was invited by conductor Herbert von Karajan to conduct the Berliner Philharmoniker. Since then, he has been invited to work with the Berliner Philharmoniker on numerous occasions, as well as many other world-renowned orchestras, including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra, to name a few. Among Tang's many recordings, he won a Grammy Award in 2002 for his collaboration with the Gulbenkian Orchestra.
 
     The three performances by the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company, namely "The House of Wulong" at 7.30pm on August 2 (Friday), the "Seven Heroes and Five Gallants" – Part One at 2.30pm on August 3 (Saturday) and the "Seven Heroes and Five Gallants" – Part Two at 7.30pm on August 4 (Sunday), will be held at the Grand Theatre of Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Lyrics and dialogues are with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets priced at $220, $320, $420 and $520 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/shanghai-jingju-theatre-company/. This programme is one of the highlights of the 12th Chinese Opera Festival, and a celebratory programme of the 35th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
 
     The first concert of "New Oriental Chinese Music Scene" by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra will be held at 8pm on August 5 (Monday) at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets are priced at $200, $280, $360 and $440. The second concert will be held at 8pm on August 6 (Tuesday) at the Auditorium of Tsuen Wan Town Hall. Tickets are priced at $200, $260, $320 and $380. They are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/new-oriental-chinese-music-scene/.
 
     In order to let the members of the public understand the artistic characteristics of Peking opera and Chinese music in Shanghai styles, a number of extension activities will be held, with details as follows:
 
     For the performances of the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company, a meet-the-artists session entitled "On the Artistic Features of the Shanghai-Style and Qi School" (in Putonghua) will be held at 7.30pm on August 1 (Thursday) at AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Speakers include performers of the troupe Chen Shaoyun, Fu Xiru and Lu Su, while Chinese opera researcher Hu Guangming will be the moderator. Admission is free, and online registration is required (www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1716.html#tab_13_0). Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, a demonstration performance of the extracts of Peking opera "Picking Up the Jade Bracelet" will be held at 5.30pm on August 3 (Saturday) at the Foyer of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Admission is free. This demonstration is one of the major activities for the LCSD Photo-taking and Video-shooting Competition. Members of the public are welcome to join. Please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ptvsc/index.html for more details.
 
     National Class One musicians Yu Bing, Hu Chenyun and Wang Yinrui will deliver three masterclasses (in Putonghua) from 10am to 1pm (one hour per session) on pipa, suona and percussion respectively on August 5 (Monday) at the Recital Hall of Hong Kong City Hall. Pak Tak-wan, Head of Academic Studies in Music of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, will be the moderator. Online registration is required (www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1692.html#tab_8_0 ). Also, a pre-concert meet-the-artist session (in Putonghua) will be held at 6.45pm on August 5 at the Recital Hall of Hong Kong City Hall. The speaker will be Yao Shenshen, resident conductor of Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, with Dr Jim Chang, part-time lecturer of the Academy of Music of Hong Kong Baptist University, who will be the moderator. Also, a pre-concert talk entitled "Shanghai Chinese Orchestra – About 'He Wuqi'" (in Cantonese) will be held at 7pm on August 6 (Tuesday) at the Cultural Activities Hall of Tsuen Wan Town Hall. The speaker will be Dr Jim Chang. Admissions are free for these masterclasses and talks, with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
     The above-mentioned performances by the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company and the "New Oriental Chinese Music Scene" by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra are the programmes of "City in Focus: Shanghai" of the inaugural CCF and Shanghai Culture Week. Another spectacular programme showcasing the cultural charm of Shanghai styles is the exhibition "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Fragrance of Time – In Search of Chinese Art of Scent" being held at the Hong Kong Museum of Art until October 16 (Wednesday). Shanghai Culture Week is co-presented by the LCSD, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism and the Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival with an opening reception and ceremony at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on August 2.
 
     The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the LCSD's Chinese Culture Promotion Office, aims to enhance the public's appreciation of Chinese culture and cultivate citizens' national identity and cultural confidence. The inaugural CCF is being held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival, exemplary local arts projects recognised by the China National Arts Fund, performing arts programmes from arts and cultural organisations, film screenings, exhibitions, talks and more, the festival allows members of the public and visitors to experience the broad and profound Chinese culture with a view to promoting Chinese culture and patriotic education as well as enhancing national identity amongst the people of Hong Kong, making contributions to the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems". For details, please visit the CCF website www.ccf.gov.hk.
 
     The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.

                  

     â€‹As the Heat Stress at Work Warning is now in effect, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate measures during the effective period of the warning to prevent heat stroke when working in hot weather or hot environments.
      
     Employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor environments face high levels of heat stress and are at a relatively higher risk of heat stroke. Employers should assess the risk factors of heat stress for employees at work and, based on the identified risk factors, take necessary preventive and control measures, including rescheduling work periods, setting up shading covers, providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment, and reminding employees to replenish water and rest in a timely manner.
      
     The Heat Stress at Work Warning is formulated by the LD based on the Hong Kong Heat Index. There are three levels of the warning: Amber, Red and Black, which help employers and employees better understand the level of heat stress while working outdoors or indoors without air-conditioning systems.
      
     A spokesman for the LD said that when the department issues the Heat Stress at Work Warning, employers must refer to the criteria and recommendations provided in the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work" to conduct risk assessments, according to the workloads and other relevant heat stress risk factors, for employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor workplaces. Appropriate rest breaks should be arranged every hour, as far as reasonably practicable, based on various levels of the Heat Stress at Work Warning, to reduce employees' risk of heat stroke.
      
     Employees must also follow instructions to rest on time. Whenever there are any symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as headache, dizziness, thirst, and nausea, they should rest in a cool and shady place, drink water, and inform employers/supervisors to take appropriate action immediately.
      
     The LD issued the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work", detailing the various risk factors that should be considered when conducting heat stress risk assessments and recommending corresponding control measures for identified risk factors for employers' and employees' reference. For the Heat Stress at Work Warning and related guidelines, please refer to the department's thematic webpage: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm.