The Civil Service College (CSC) of the Civil Service Bureau has launched the "Holistic View of National Security" seminar series. The second seminar in the series, on the topic of "National Security in the Rise and Fall of Great Nations", was delivered by Deputy Director of the Office of the Center for a Holistic Approach to National Security Mr Dong Chunling, at the CSC today (October 12).

     During the seminar, Mr Dong shared cases and patterns related to the rise and fall of great nations, as well as the fundamental attributes of the national security path with Chinese characteristics, and more, enabling civil servants to understand the importance of national security to the rise and fall of a nation from a historical perspective.

     Addressing the seminar, the Head of the CSC, Mr Oscar Kwok, stressed that civil servants of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region must deeply understand the logic and rationale behind the national strategy of a holistic view of national security. They should also learn from history the importance of national security to the country's development. Only by doing so can they play a positive role in their work and proactively take on the important responsibility of safeguarding Hong Kong and national security.

     Around 200 officers, including middle and senior-level civil servants and politically appointed officials, attended the seminar today. Some of them participated through video-conferencing.

     The seminar series consists of seven talks, covering topics such as global economic change, and the opportunities and challenges of technological development for safeguarding national security. The series provides a comprehensive and multi-perspective analysis of the development of the holistic view of national security, its main content, the challenges of safeguarding national security, and its significance to the country's development. The seminars are delivered by experts from the Center for a Holistic Approach to National Security or the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

      

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (October 12) that following further investigation on the incident of prepackaged white pepper powder imported from India being found with a pesticide, ethylene oxide, another sample batch was also found with a pesticide, ethylene oxide. Members of the public should not consume the affected batch of the product. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

     Product details are as follows:

Product name: Organic WHITE PEPPER POWDER
Brand: Passion by Mama 
Place of origin: India
Net weight: 55 grams per bottle
Retailer: Healthy Express 
Best-before date: June 28, 2023

     A spokesman for the CFS said, "Subsequent to announcing earlier that a sample of white pepper powder taken from a retail outlet in Tsuen Wan was found to contain a pesticide, ethylene oxide, the CFS detected a similar irregularity in another batch of white pepper powder sample taken from the same retail outlet for testing during follow-up investigations. According to the CFS's instructions, the retailer concerned has initiated a recall on the affected batch of the product. Members of the public may call its hotline at 3565 1770/9555 5280 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the product concerned. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence."

     The spokesman continued, "The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified ethylene oxide as a Group 1 carcinogen. According to the Pesticide Residues in Food Regulation (Cap. 132CM), a food for human consumption containing pesticide residue may only be sold if consumption of the food is not dangerous or prejudicial to health. An offender is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for six months upon conviction."

     The spokesman urged the public not to consume the affected batch of the product if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product concerned immediately if they possess it.

     The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.

     The 2023 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Inclusive Education Forum is being held today and tomorrow (October 12 and 13). The forum is organised by The Salvation Army Hong Kong and Macau Territory and the Education University of Hong Kong, with collaboration and support from the Education Bureau, the Department of Education of Guangdong Province and the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

     The forum, with the theme "Solidarity and Inclusiveness – New Vision on Special Education in Guangdong Province, Hong Kong, and Macau", has attracted the participation of over 500 scholars in the field of special education, experts, principals, teachers, frontline educators, and parents.

     The opening ceremony of the forum was jointly hosted by distinguished guests from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. The guests included the Head of the Special Education Division, Department of Basic Education of the Ministry of Education, Mr Huang Wei; Deputy Director-General of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province Mr Li Biliang; the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Director of the Division of Pre-school and Primary Education of the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao SAR, Ms Choi Man-chi; the Chief Secretary for The Salvation Army Hong Kong and Macau Territory, Major Minny Chan; and the President of the Education University of Hong Kong, Professor John Lee.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Choi said that the Hong Kong SAR Government attaches great importance to support for students with special educational needs (SEN students). The Whole School Approach to Integrated Education is implemented to enable SEN students to study in mainstream schools to enjoy equal educational opportunities. The forum brings together scholars, experts and teachers of integrated education from Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao. They will hold discussions from the perspectives of theory application and real-life practice, to jointly explore the future of integrated education and ways to respond to the demands and changes brought by rapid technological developments. It is hoped that students with different needs can receive equal and quality education, as well as demonstrate their potential and face challenges ahead.  

     Dr Choi said that the Education Bureau would actively promote integrated education and strengthen regional collaboration and exchange among Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao with an aim to create a better learning and upbringing environment for children.   

     The forum brings together scholars and experts in integrated education from Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao to jointly explore infrastructure, teacher training, curriculum development, and pedagogical innovation in integrated education, and more, through interaction and exchange. The Forum seeks to promote mutual understanding in the construction of integrated education within the region and foster further co-operation in integrated education. The activities of the Forum include keynote speeches, thematic sharing, and school visits.

     The keynote speakers include the Director of the Institute of Special Needs and Inclusion Education of the Education University of Hong Kong, Professor Kenneth Sin; Vice Dean of the School of Education at South China Normal University Professor Ge Xingbin; and Ms Choi Man-chi.

    

     â€‹In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Security Bureau confirmed today (October 12) that Zeng Yuxuan has been released from imprisonment, and has been removed from Hong Kong in accordance with section 19(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115).

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs conducted anti-narcotics operations on August 18 and October 5 and detected two dangerous drugs trafficking cases. About 86 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds and a small quantity of suspected cocaine and suspected ketamine, with a total estimated market value of about $20.4 million, were seized. Three men were arrested during the operations.

     In the first case, Customs on October 5 inspected a seaborne consignment, declared as carrying household goods and arriving in Hong Kong from Canada, at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers found a batch of suspected cannabis buds, weighing about 76kg, concealed inside two wooden cabinets. The estimated market value of this batch of dangerous drugs was about $18 million. After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers conducted a series of controlled delivery operations from October 6 to yesterday (October 11) in which three men aged between 32 and 40, suspected to be connected with the case, were arrested. A small amount of suspected cocaine and suspected ketamine were seized on one of the arrested men.

     In the second case, Customs on August 18 inspected an express parcel, which was declared as carrying machinery spares, arriving in Hong Kong from South Africa via Shenzhen at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. After examination, about 10kg of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.4 million were found concealed inside a wooden ornament. 

     Investigations of the above-mentioned two cases are ongoing.

     Customs will continue to enhance enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary returns. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Ordinance), cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are classified as dangerous drugs. Importation of products (including food or drinks) containing cannabis or THC into Hong Kong is prohibited unless the relevant provisions in the Ordinance are complied with. In order to avoid breaching the law inadvertently, special attention should be paid to the packaging labels of those products.

     Under the Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).