The Mediation Week 2024, a biennial event organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ), was officially launched today (May 6). The five-day programme, themed "Mediate First – Bridge Cultures, Build Futures", features a series of thematic events and the Mediation Conference 2024 to promote the use of mediation in various sectors. The Mediation Week opening was marked by the thematic event: School Mediation Seminar this morning.

     The School Mediation Seminar, titled "Mediation: Fostering School-Family-Community Partnerships", featured a panel discussion where experienced mediators, educators, students and parents talked about how they have successfully used mediation techniques to resolve conflicts in school settings with practical tips and lessons learned from their mediation experiences. It was followed by a sharing session where winners of the Mediation Essay Competition 2024 shared their views on mediation and insights about their awarded essays. A prize presentation ceremony for the competition was held after the session. Concluding the seminar, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, delivered his closing remarks and officiated at the "Mediate First" Pledge Signing Ceremony for Students.

     The seminar aiming to nurture the culture of mediation among students and the education sector was well received, attracting about 400 registrations for participation on-site and online. The DoJ will continue its dedicated efforts in promoting the use of mediation as an amicable means to resolve disputes in various sectors, thereby consolidating Hong Kong's status as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.

     Fully supported by the two legal professional bodies in Hong Kong, and other legal and dispute resolution services organisations, as well as government departments and relevant organisations, the Mediation Week 2024 will also feature the following events this week:

May 7
* Workplace Mediation Seminar – Happy Work Happy Life: Use of mediation in employee's compensation claims and other workplace disputes

May 8
* Consumer Mediation Seminar – "Click, Cart, Click: Consumer Dispute Resolution in the Digital Age"

May 9
* The Splendor of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Family Court

May 10
* Flagship event: Mediation Conference 2024

     For more details of the Mediation Week 2024, please visit the dedicated website at mediationweek2024.com.

                

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following appeal today (May 6) regarding a patient who left the hospital without notifying hospital staff:

     A 15-year-old male patient left the Orthopaedic ward without notifying hospital staff at around 11.30pm yesterday (May 5).

     Upon discovering the patient was missing, ward staff immediately reported the incident to security guards for a search in hospital areas and the vicinity, but their efforts were unsuccessful. QEH is very concerned about the incident. The hospital has contacted the patient's relative and reported the incident to the Police. The hospital will co-operate with the Police for the search.

     The patient is approximately 1.75 metres tall, has a thin body build, brown short hair, and a tattoo on his right leg. He was seen leaving the hospital in patient clothes.

     The hospital appeals to members of the public to contact the QEH Security Department at 3506 8944 or call 999 if they know the whereabouts of the patient.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Film Development Council:
 
     The Film Financing Scheme for Mainland Market under the Film Development Fund is open for application today (May 6). The Scheme aims to support Hong Kong film companies and the Mainland cultural enterprises to invest in and promote the productions of Hong Kong directors. This will help boost the chance of Hong Kong films for release in the Mainland market and nurture more Hong Kong directors to enter the Mainland film market. The Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC) and Create Hong Kong held a press conference on April 20 and introduced the Scheme at the 14th Beijing International Film Festival in Beijing.
      
     The Chairman of the FDC, Dr Wilfred Wong, said, "The Mainland film market is huge and has a broad audience base. We anticipate the new Scheme could foster exchanges between the talent of the two places with a view to bringing more outstanding film productions to audiences from Hong Kong and the Mainland and promoting the collaboration between Hong Kong film industry and the Mainland."
      
     The Scheme is open for application throughout the year. The production budgets of the film projects must be between HK$25 million and HK$150 million. Approved film projects must be theatrically released in Hong Kong and if they are successfully released in the Mainland cinemas, they will receive a government finance of HK$10 million. If the film project ultimately fails to be released in the Mainland cinemas or streaming platforms, the amount of government finance will be reduced correspondingly.
      
     Details of the Scheme and the application form are available on the website of the FDC (www.fdc.gov.hk/en/ffsmm).

  

     A spokesman for Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) today (May 6) said that the two-day Global Talent Summit · Hong Kong will be held tomorrow (May 7) in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
 
     The Summit will comprise three parts, including the International Talent Forum tomorrow and the Second Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area High-quality Talent Development Conference on May 8. The Forum and the Conference will be webcast live on the Summit's website (www.hkengage.gov.hk/GlobalTalentSummit).
 
     In addition, the CareerConnect Expo will be held concurrently on both days. Talent who are interested in coming to Hong Kong or have recently arrived in the city, stakeholders in various sectors who are concerned about talent development, non-local university students and members of the public are welcome to visit the Expo.
 
     At the Expo, human resources agencies and recruitment platforms will offer quality job information of various professions in Hong Kong which are suitable for talent with diverse backgrounds, qualifications and experience. Talent who have recently arrived can also learn about relevant information on job searches, working or starting a business in Hong Kong. In addition, some exhibitors will provide visiting talent and their families with consultation services and settling-in solutions or offers, with a view to helping them move to Hong Kong, adapt smoothly and stay in the city for development.
 
     The Expo will be held from 10am to 5.30pm at Hall 3F, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Admission is free. For the latest updates, please refer to HKTE's social media.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hold a public hearing on "Emergency dental services and elderly dental care support" (Chapter 2) of the Director of Audit's Report No. 82 tomorrow (May 7) at 9am in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex.

     Eight witnesses have been invited to appear before the above hearing to respond to points raised in the Report and answer questions asked by PAC members.

     The programme for the public hearing is as follows:

Subject: Emergency dental services and elderly dental care support
(Chapter 2 of the Director of Audit's Report No.82)
Date: May 7 (Tuesday)
Time: 9am
Venue: Conference Room 1

Witnesses:

Professor Lo Chung-mau
Secretary for Health

Mr Thomas Chan 
Permanent Secretary for Health

Mr Eddie Lee 
Deputy Secretary for Health 2

Dr Frankie So 
Consultant (Oral Health Care)
Health Bureau

Dr Ronald Lam
Director of Health

Dr Kitty Hse
Consultant i/c Dental Services
Department of Health

Dr Tony Ko
Chief Executive, Hospital Authority

Dr Larry Lee
Chief Manager (Cluster Performance)
Hospital Authority

     The PAC is chaired by Mr Shiu Ka-fai, and its Deputy Chairman is Mr Paul Tse.  Other members are Ms Yung Hoi-yan, Mr Luk Chung-hung, Mr Edmund Wong, Mr Louis Loong and Ms Carmen Kan.