Tag Archives: China

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in Ngau Tau Kok yesterday (May 10) in which a woman died.      At 10.11pm, a taxi driven by a 65-year-old man was travelling westbound along Kwu… read more

     Three charities have been issued Public Subscription Permits to hold flag sales from 7am to 12.30pm today (May 11). They are, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong Federation of the Blind; in Kowloon, Love Family Charity Limited; and in the New Territories, Hong Chi Association, a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said.
      
     Arrangements have been made with the charities to help people to distinguish among the three flag-selling activities.    
      
     Information on the three flag-selling organisations on May 11 is as follows:
 

Region	Name of organisation	Colour of collection bag	Colour of flag
Hong Kong Island	Hong Kong Federation of the Blind	Yellow	White
Kowloon	Love Family Charity Limited	Yellow	Yellow
New Territories	Hong Chi Association	Green	Pink

 
     Details of the charitable fund-raising activities, including any updated information, covered by the issued Public Subscription Permits have been published on the GovHK website (www.gov.hk/en/theme/fundraising/search). Permits for flag days containing information on contact methods of the flag-selling organisations and the approved flag-selling activities have also been uploaded to the SWD’s website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/ngo/controlofc/flagdays) for reference. For enquiries, please call the SWD’s hotline at 2343 2255, or the designated hotline of the 1823 Call Centre at 3142 2678.
      
     In the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the Police, the spokesman added. read more

     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, today (May 10) continued to lead the delegation of Hong Kong higher education institutions to visit Beijing. They called on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Science and Technology, and visited a technology enterprise.
 
     In the morning, the delegation called on the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, to report on the latest developments of Hong Kong’s higher education sector. Dr Choi expressed gratitude to Mr Xia for his constant care and love for Hong Kong.
 
     Mr Xia pointed out that Hong Kong’s higher education has unique advantages, including high teaching quality, strong basic research capabilities, extensive international connections, and solid co-operation with the Mainland, representing a strong foundation and huge influence.
 
     He said that Hong Kong’s education is an important part of national education. Universities must keep in mind the importance of cultivating more talent, producing more scientific research outcomes, and making more contributions to national development. He hoped that the leaders of Hong Kong’s higher education institutions will shoulder their important responsibilities of adhering to the fundamentals of cultivating values and nurturing talent, strengthening their affection for and sense of belonging to the country, and enthusiastically promoting the key message of love for the country and Hong Kong; following firmly the strategy of developing their institutions with quality talent, reinforcing the cultivation and attraction of talent, and providing strong support for young students to become talent; persisting in giving full play to their unique advantages, and contributing Hong Kong’s wisdom and strengths in the construction of a leading country in education.
 
     He emphasised that the Central Government will fully, faithfully and unswervingly ensure that the “one country, two systems” principle remains unchanged, and wholeheartedly support Hong Kong in achieving a leap forward at the new stage. All must be united and proactively support the Chief Executive and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in governing Hong Kong in accordance with the law, and fully leveraging Hong Kong’s advantages under “one country, two systems” and as an international city, working together to build an international education hub, and contributing further to Hong Kong in its transition from stability to prosperity and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

     Dr Choi said that the active participation of the leaders of the 22 Hong Kong higher education institutions in the study group has not only made history for Hong Kong’s higher education sector, it also demonstrated the sector’s unity, carrying great significance.
 
     She pointed out that with the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, an improved electoral system and the Basic Law Article 23 legislation, a stable environment for development has been created. Coupled with the goal of building a leading country in education by 2035, Hong Kong’s higher education will enjoy a golden opportunity for development in the next decade. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will give full support to institutions for continuous innovation and optimisation, and giving full play to the strengths of Hong Kong’s first-class universities, to develop Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education.
 
     The delegation also called on the Ministry of Science and Technology to gain a deep understanding of the latest trend of national science and technology development, the overall national development, and the goal of building a nation strong in science and technology. Dr Choi said that Hong Kong and the Mainland have been working closely in the area of scientific and technological innovation, and Hong Kong’s researchers are an indispensable force in building a nation strong in science and technology. She said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has all along been committed to promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education to nurture future talent for the country and Hong Kong.
 
     In the afternoon, the delegation visited a Mainland technology enterprise to learn about the development trend of digital economy on the Mainland and explore opportunities for collaboration.
 
     Members of the delegation include the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms Michelle Li; the Chairman of the University Grants Committee (UGC), Mr Tim Lui; the Chairman of the Research Grants Council, Professor Timothy Tong; the Chairman of the Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary Education, Dr Alex Chan; and presidents or representatives of eight UGC-funded universities, 13 degree-awarding self-financing post-secondary institutions and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. The delegation concluded its visit to Beijing today.
 
     Tomorrow (May 11), Dr Choi will meet leaders of the National Academy of Education Administration to explore further co-operation between Hong Kong and Mainland teacher training institutions. She will also attend the closing ceremony of a Mainland study tour for Hong Kong’s promoted teachers held at the Academy. About 70 promoted teachers participated in the study tour, which included thematic talks, visits to schools and enterprises, and cultural visits that enabled teachers to learn about the latest developments in various areas of the country, and exchange views with Mainland school leaders for more effective promotion of school development.
 
     Dr Choi will conclude her visit and return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon.

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     â€‹The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (May 10) strongly deplored and opposed the biased remarks about the situation in the HKSAR and the slanders and smears against the HKSAR’s work in safeguarding national security, made by the Consul General of the United States of America (US) to Hong Kong, Mr Gregory May, at a forum recently held by a US think tank.

     A HKSAR Government spokesman said, “The US side has ignored the large-scale and incessant riots during the ‘colour revolution’ in Hong Kong that occurred in 2019 which devastated our society, livelihood and economy. It ignored the fact that it is an international practice and an inherent right and responsibility for sovereign state to enact laws safeguarding national security. It blatantly attacked the HKSAR in safeguarding national security dutifully, faithfully and in accordance with the law. Such positions fully exposed the US’ double standards. The HKSAR Government urges the US to discern the fact that the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) has enabled the livelihood and economic activities of the Hong Kong community at large to resume as normal.”

     The spokesman continued, “The laws safeguarding national security in the HKSAR including the NSL and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance are precisely for safeguarding national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; and ensuring the full and faithful implementation of the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy. It also better safeguards the fundamental rights and freedoms of the residents of the HKSAR and other people, including those doing business, in the city. The relevant laws have set out clear definitions and criminal elements which will not affect regular exchanges between Hong Kong residents and people here for business with foreign countries. These normal interactions and business activities are protected by the Basic Law and the local laws of the HKSAR, and cannot be confused with acts and activities endangering national security.

     “The HKSAR’s law enforcement agencies released information of fugitive offenders who have allegedly committed serious offences and are wanted, and appealed for the public’s assistance in bringing fugitive offenders to justice. This is legitimate, necessary, and squarely in line with international practice. The US side on one hand claimed that it wished to ‘stabilise the relationship’, but on the other hand, it frequently smeared the law enforcement actions conducted by the HKSAR in accordance with the law; and its suggestion that certain persons should be immune from legal sanctions for their illegal acts and activities is totally contrary to the spirit of the rule of law.”

     Regarding the Court of Appeal’s recent granting of an interim injunction concerning specified criminal acts in relation to a song (the Song), the spokesman for the HKSAR Government reiterated, “The purpose of applying for the injunction is to safeguard national security and preserve the dignity of the national anthem. The Song has been widely circulated since 2019, and has been used to incite others to participate in acts and activities which are very likely to constitute offences such as secession and sedition, thereby endangering national security. The Song has also been mistakenly presented as the ‘national anthem of Hong Kong. This has not only insulted the national anthem ‘March of the Volunteers’ but also caused serious harm to the State and the HKSAR. The HKSAR Government has acted in accordance with the law and applied to the Court for an injunction for discharging the constitutional duty of the HKSAR Government to safeguard national security by effectively preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment on acts or activities endangering national security. The injunction targets four acts which already constitute criminal offences. It does not affect lawful and legitimate activities conducted for purposes such as academic activity and news activity, and will not stifle the free flow of information.”

     As for the economic and trade co-operation and people-to-people exchanges between Hong Kong and the US mentioned by Mr May, the HKSAR Government spokesman said, “The US enjoys significant economic benefit in Hong Kong, with more than 1 200 US companies having set up businesses in Hong Kong. It also enjoyed a trade surplus of US$271.5 billion with Hong Kong in the past 10 years, the largest among its global trading partners. The US should take concrete actions to stop all wrongdoings that undermine Hong Kong-US economic and trade relations, and make efforts to foster mutual benefit between the two places in various areas, including promoting economic and trade relations and cultural exchanges.”

     The HKSAR Government has set up 14 Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs) overseas (including the three ETOs established in the US). All along, the HKSAR has been proactively maintaining extensive ties and facilitating co-operation with different countries and regions in accordance with the Basic Law. It however premises on mutual respect of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and not to smear or slander the successful application of such principle nor interfere with the affairs of the HKSAR.”

     The HKSAR Government spokesman stressed, “With a comprehensive legal system in safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, we can move forward without worries or burden, fully focus on pursuing economic growth, advancing development, improving people’s livelihood and bringing fulfilment to the people, with a view to creating a more prosperous and better home together. Under ‘one country, two systems’, Hong Kong commands irreplaceable standing with the distinctive advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world. There lies a plethora of opportunities ahead. The HKSAR Government will continue to ensure the successful implementation of the principles of ‘one country, two systems’, ‘Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong’ and a high degree of autonomy, so as to better serve Hong Kong citizens and foster the city’s development.”

     The spokesman reiterated, “The HKSAR Government strongly demands the US to immediately stop acting against international law and basic norms of international relations and interfering in the affairs of the HKSAR.” read more

     â€‹The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government finds it absolutely unacceptable that the Chairperson of the Hong Kong, China Weightlifting and Powerlifting Association (the Association), Dr Ip Wing-yuk, … read more