The following is issued on behalf of the Communications Authority:
 
     This press release summarises the decision of the Communications Authority (CA) following its 136th meeting held in July 2024.
 
Relaxation of requirement related to insertion of news updates in television programmes
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     The CA decided to relax the requirement related to the display of non-programme material (Note 1) within programmes on domestic free television programme services (free TV) and domestic pay television programme services (pay TV) so that individual licensees may, having regard to their production and scheduling needs, decide whether or not to insert news updates in their programmes.
 
     In June 2024, the CA received an application from Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) for a waiver to enable it to display news headlines (Note 2), in the form of superimposed text, for specified types of programmes (including current affairs programmes, documentaries, informative and infotainment programmes) on the Phoenix Hong Kong Channel. The CA notes that with the proliferation of instant information and increasing demand for such information, viewers should have been accustomed to the display of news headlines in the aforesaid types of programmes and that their viewing pleasure would not be affected. In view of the above, the CA approved TVB's application on the condition that the superimposition of news headlines would not affect the viewing pleasure of the viewers. The waiver is valid until further notice. The relaxation is also applicable to TVB's other programme channels as well as the other two free TV licensees (i.e. HK Television Entertainment Company Limited and i-CABLE HOY Limited) and the pay TV licensee (i.e. PCCW Media Limited) for the broadcast of the aforesaid types of programmes.
 
Note 1: Paragraph 1 of Chapter 8 of the Generic Code of Practice on Television Advertising Standards stipulates that unless otherwise permitted by the CA, non-programme material may be placed only at the beginning or end of a programme or in a natural break occurring therein. For the purpose of this code, "non-programme material" includes news headlines in the form of superimposed text within a programme (except news programme).
 
Note 2: The CA has previously approved TVB's application for a temporary waiver for the Phoenix Hong Kong Channel to display news headlines for specified types of programmes (including current affairs programmes, documentaries and informative programmes). The waiver is valid for a period of three months from April 22 to July 21, 2024.

     The Education Bureau (EDB) today (July 15) announced the release of the Primary Education Curriculum Guide (PECG) (2024) prepared by the Curriculum Development Council (CDC) for schools' implementation in the 2024/25 school year with a view to further optimising the whole-school curriculum planning and promoting students' whole-person development.
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     In line with the following major developments in education, the Ad Hoc Committee on Primary Education Curriculum Guide (AHC) has further enriched the relevant contents of the PECG (2024), striving to better suit the needs of schools and students, and keep abreast of the times:

＊    Fostering values education: echoing the optimised 12 "Priority Values and Attitudes";
＊    Promoting patriotic education: enriching the recommendations related to patriotic education;
＊    Introducing primary humanities (PH) and Primary Science (PS): updating the suggested lesson time allocation for each Key Learning Area/subject and the flexible lesson time; and providing new examples of good use of learning time to tie in with the introduction of PH and PS in the 2025/26 school year; and
＊    Optimising the recommendations related to school assessment and assignment policies.
 
     An EDB spokesman said, "In order to create more space for fostering the balanced physical and psychological development of students, the PECG (2024) specifically puts forward recommendations to optimise school assessment and assignment policies, such as giving appropriate self-learning tasks instead of written assignments during long holidays; avoiding arranging tests or examinations immediately after long holidays; arranging a tutorial session in the afternoon as far as possible; collecting views of stakeholders on the school assessment policy at least once per school year; and formulating a mechanism in school to co-ordinate the time arrangement of assessments as well as the amount of homework."
      
     Since the release of the PECG (Pilot Version) in September 2022, the EDB has been collecting views from the sector and reviewing the piloting in schools through various channels, such as questionnaire surveys and onsite workshops. Schools generally agree with the updated Seven Learning Goals and have incorporated the major renewed emphases of the PECG into their whole-school curriculum planning according to their development priorities.
      
     The EDB is very grateful to the CDC for their professional advice during the drafting process of the curriculum guide, and also for the contribution of the AHC under the CDC in updating the PECG as well as their participation in its promotion. The AHC has conducted an ongoing review during the piloting period, and further enriched the contents of the PECG to tie in with the latest developments of the country, society and education, striving to better suit the needs of schools and students and keep abreast of the times.
      
     To promote the PECG, the EDB continues to develop diversified modes of resources, including the PECG video series, the "Little Seedling" comics series, the school resources packages, and featured articles in "Smart Parent Net". A new promotional video will be launched in the coming school year. The EDB will also keep on organising onsite workshops for teachers to support schools' implementation of the major renewed emphases of the PECG.
      
     The PECG (2024) and related resources are available on the EDB webpage (www.edb.gov.hk/pecg) for schools' reference and use.

     The 2024 Maker in China SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Contest – Hong Kong Chapter (MiCHK) is open for enrolment starting from today (July 15). Hong Kong start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) aiming to expand in the Mainland market are welcome to join the contest. The deadline for enrolment is August 16.

     The contest covers various technology fields that enhance new quality productive forces, including Fintech, AI & Big Data, Advanced Network Equipment, Third Generation Internet and Metaverse, Quantum Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, New Materials, New Energy and Green Technology, Biomedicine, as well as Smart Living and Smart Mobility.

     The contest allows Mainland investors and enterprises to learn more about the innovative technology products and solutions of the local industry, and also enables local innovative technology SMEs to explore business opportunities on the Mainland. In the MiCHK 2024 Final to be held on September 26, the top 10 finalists will have one-on-one business matching sessions with investors and enterprises from the Mainland. They will also have the opportunity to receive support to participate in various start-up programmes and exhibitions, and to promote their innovative projects to different regions through multiple platforms. The champion, first runner-up and second runner-up will represent the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to compete in the state-level Maker in China SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Contest Final in Guangzhou in November, where they will compete for opportunities to gain support in entering the Mainland market by connecting with Mainland investors, setting up in the Mainland entrepreneurial parks, and receiving guidance on result transformation.

     The MiCHK 2024 is jointly organised by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer of the HKSAR Government, the China Centre for Promotion of SME Development of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China, the Department of Youth Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, and the China International Cooperation Association of SMEs, and formulated by the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, the Angel Investment Foundation and the Guangzhou SME's Promotion For Specialization Refinement Differentiation Innovation Development. For more details about the contest, please visit www.makerinchina.hk.

     With a view to further enabling the public to visit the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir and appreciate its internal structures, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) today (July 15) announced that no prior appointment will be required for the public to visit the service reservoir from August 1. The opening hours will be from 9am to noon and 2pm to 5pm from Monday to Sunday (closed on the first Tuesday of each month), with final admission time at 11.30am and 4.30pm each day.

     For guided tours, the WSD will organise one session for groups in the afternoon from Monday to Friday (closed on the first Tuesday of each month) and two sessions for individuals in the afternoon on Saturday and Sunday. Members of the public are welcome to make appointments through the WSD's Guided Tour to Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir dedicated webpage.

     The service reservoir has a maximum capacity of 100 persons. The WSD will arrange entry on a first-come, first-served basis. For other special arrangements, the WSD will make announcements through its dedicated webpage.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 15) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach in Islands District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.