Officers of the Escort and Support Group of the Correctional Services Department stopped a male remand person in custody attacking staff members yesterday (April 8).

     At 2.55pm yesterday, a 67-year-old male remand person in custody suddenly became emotional and attacked two correctional officers at an outside clinic. Officers at the scene immediately stopped the assailant and called for reinforcement.

     During the incident, an officer sustained injuries to his face, lip and chest, while another officer sustained injuries to his hands and legs. The assailant sustained injuries to his shoulder, wrist and forehead. They were sent to a public hospital for examination and treatment.

     The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.

     The assailant was remanded for the offence of manufacture of dangerous drug in July 2022.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) said today (April 8) that the service arrangements during and after Easter and Ching Ming Festival public holidays helped to cope with the service demand surge and alleviate the service pressure on the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments. The operations of public hospitals were maintained smoothly in general.

     The service arrangements included increasing General Outpatient Clinics (GOPCs) and Chinese Medicine Clinics cum Training and Research Centres (CMCTRs) services during public holidays, implementing a special refund arrangement at A&E Departments, flexibly mobilising manpower and beds, enhancing support for discharge procedures so as to expedite hospital bed turnover, etc. During Easter and Ching Ming Festival public holidays, apart from the 14 public holiday GOPCs, four GOPCs provided additional services on April 1 with a total quota of about 10 000. As for CMCTRs located in the 18 districts, they enhanced the government-subsidised Chinese medicine out-patient services by providing for a total quota of 12 000 in the period of Easter holidays and the first week of April.

     In addition, in order to alleviate the impact of service demand surge on public healthcare system, the Health Bureau has collated information of private hospitals, healthcare facilities, family doctors and Chinese medicine clinics which were in operation during the holidays across the city. The information (including addresses, phone numbers and operation hours) of the relevant hospitals and clinics have been uploaded to an online portal for public reference in collaboration with the Spatial Data Office of the Development Bureau and the Lands Department, to facilitate citizens to look for suitable hospitals or clinics for medical treatment.  
      
     Data from the HA shows that during Easter and Ching Ming Festival public holidays, the quota utilisation rate of GOPCs was more than 90 per cent. In the period of Easter holidays and the first week of April, the quota utilisation rate of CMCTRs was close to 90 per cent. The spokesperson said, "Increasing quota in GOPCs and CMCTRs was able to help cope with citizens' demand for consultation during the holidays."
      
     Regarding the operation of A&E Departments, from March 28 to April 7, attendance of over 60 000 was recorded. During this period, the A&E first attendance in public hospitals ranged from about 5 100 to about 6 000 daily while the median of waiting time of semi-urgent and non-urgent patients ranged from two hours to three hours. To cope with service demands, A&E Departments implemented the special refund arrangement which effectively alleviated pressure on A&E Departments and the operation was generally smooth.
      
     The special refund arrangement in A&E Departments has concluded. From March 28 to April 7, 999 applications for refund have so far been received, accounting for around 1.6 per cent of the total number of attendances. The applications are currently under process and eligible applicants will be refunded by cheque sent via mail, by credit card or electronic wallet.
      
     The spokesperson emphasised, "The operation of the special refund arrangement has been smooth, allowing stable and mild patients to have more flexibility in choosing alternative private medical institutions, thus diverting patients and alleviating the service pressure on A&E Departments, enabling them to concentrate resources of taking care of patients in need."
      
     "After implementation of the above special measures, the operation of all public hospitals remained smooth during this period, and the overall pressure on public hospitals was alleviated. In particular, the waiting time for patients admitted to the wards through the A&E Departments has been improved. However, the HA noted that some patients did not show up after making appointments at the GOPCs and CMCTRs. The HA appeals to patients to proactively cancel their appointments if consultation service is not in need due to other arrangement, so that patients in need can receive medical services more easily and in a timely manner."
      
     Moreover, recent surveillance data shows that both COVID-19 and influenza activities are still active in Hong Kong and other regions. The HA appeals to members of the public to get vaccinated early for COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, especially high-risk groups, to reduce the chance of getting infected for themselves and their family members, as well as to reduce critical cases and deaths. Regardless of the number of doses received previously, high-risk groups are recommended to receive a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at least six months since the last dose or infection.
      
      
     Members of the public may find details on the Centre for Health Protection COVID-19 Vaccination Programme website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html) and the Vaccination Schemes website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/17980.html).
      
     The HA is thankful for patients' understanding, and also the frontline healthcare staff who stayed on duty during public holidays. A&E and inpatient services remained smooth because staff from all disciplines stood fast and remained at their posts, taking care of patients wholeheartedly. The HA will continue to monitor the service statistics of public hospitals and conclude the experience gained from implementing special measures this time and feedback received from different stakeholders, so as to help implement appropriate measures in the future so that A&E Department resources can be used for citizens who are most in need of healthcare services.

     The Government announced today (April 8) the establishment of the Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee (CBLPSC). The Working Group will co-ordinate the work of government departments and non-governmental organisations in taking forward patriotic education and dovetailing with the Patriotic Education Law of the People's Republic of China, with a view to enhancing education on our country's history, culture and current affairs on different fronts, promoting patriotism and ensuring its continuity from generation to generation.
      
     The Chief Executive announced in the Policy Address last year that patriotic education would be rolled out to enhance national identity and appreciation of the richness and beauty of the traditional Chinese culture among the people of Hong Kong, laying a good foundation for national unity and solidarity, and that patriotic education would be integrated into the education system of the city. A Working Group on Patriotic Education would be established under the CBLPSC led by the Chief Secretary for Administration.
      
     The Chairman of the CBLPSC and the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, said, "Patriotic education is rich in content, covering the history, culture, traditions and values, and symbols and signs of our country. It focuses on cultivating national awareness and sense of civic responsibility among all citizens. Also, promotion of patriotic education can be conducted in a diversified manner. In addition to the all-out promotional effort of the Government, the active participation of all sectors in society is integral. The membership of the Working Group on Patriotic Education comprises the relevant Directors of Bureaux and Heads of Departments and leaders from the relevant sectors of society. To assist the CBLSPC in taking forward patriotic education in an all-round manner, the Working Group will focus efforts on four aspects, namely school education; local community; history, politics, economy and culture; and media publicity."
      
     "I firmly believe that the Working Group on Patriotic Education will adopt a holistic and far-sighted approach, taking into account both the current situation and the relevant contents of the Patriotic Education Law of the People's Republic of China, to tendering advice and suggestions to the CBLPSC on how best to combine efforts of the Government and the community in enhancing the awareness and sense of patriotism among the people of Hong Kong. I sincerely look forward to working with all members of the Working Group to integrate patriotic education with national security education and Chinese culture education, take forward promotions at school and community levels, and make good use of various media platforms for publicity purposes," he added.
      
     The terms of reference of the Working Group on Patriotic Education are as follows:
 
1. To assist in formulating the overall plan and strategy for promoting patriotic education in Hong Kong, and to report to the CBLPSC and seek its steering regularly;  
 
2. To monitor, evaluate and review, having regard to the actual circumstances, the implementation of various patriotic education initiatives undertaken according to the established strategy, and to report on the progress to the CBLPSC in a timely manner;
 
3. To facilitate co-ordination and co-operation between government departments and non-governmental organisations in promoting patriotic education; and
 
4. To consider and handle other matters relating to the promotion of patriotic education as appropriate.

     The membership of the Working Group on Patriotic Education is as follows:
 
Convenor
————
Ms Starry Lee Wai-king
 
Non-official members
————————–
Mr Stanley Choi Tak-shing
Professor Gu Min-kang
Mr Kwok Wing-keung
Ms Cally Kwong Mei-wan
Professor Lau Chi-pang
Mr Lee Luen-fai
Mr James Li Tsz-shu
Ms Melissa Kaye Pang
Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai
Mr Wong Kam-leung
Ms Connie Wong Wai-ching
Mr Yang Yong
 
Official members
——————–
Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs
Secretary for the Civil Service
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism
Secretary for Education
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs
Secretary for Security
Director of Home Affairs
Director of Information Services
Director of Leisure and Cultural Services
Director-General of Trade and Industry
Solicitor General

     The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the Youth Development Commission (YDC) jointly launched new rounds of the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Funding Scheme for Experiential Programmes at Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases under the Youth Development Fund today (April 8). Eligible non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are invited to submit applications. 

     In his 2023 Policy Address, the Chief Executive emphasised that the Government will sustain its efforts in promoting youth development and will continue to implement and enhance the Youth Development Blueprint. Some of the measures covered in the Blueprint encourage and support Hong Kong youth in pursuing innovation and entrepreneurship. 

     The Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the GBA subsidises NGOs to implement youth entrepreneurship projects. It provides young people who are interested in starting their businesses in Hong Kong and the Mainland cities of the GBA with start-up capital as well as entrepreneurial support and incubation services, so as to assist them to tackle the difficulties they encounter during the inception stage and support them through the establishment and development of their businesses. Under the last round of the scheme, the funded NGOs recruited a total of 217 youth start-up teams. All of them have started their businesses in Hong Kong, and over 70 of them have established a presence in Mainland cities of the GBA such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Zhuhai. 

     In addition, to further encourage young people to explore entrepreneurial opportunities in the vast Mainland market, the HYAB and the YDC launched the Funding Scheme for Experiential Programmes at Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases, the scope of which has expanded from the Mainland cities of the GBA to all provinces and municipalities on the Mainland. The scheme provides a subsidy for NGOs to organise experiential programmes at innovation and entrepreneurial bases on the Mainland, so as to enable Hong Kong young people to gain deeper understanding of the innovation and entrepreneurial bases and the relevant policies and support measures on innovation and entrepreneurship on the Mainland. This will in turn facilitate their consideration of settling in the relevant entrepreneurial bases in future. 

     The details of the two funding schemes have been uploaded onto the website of the YDC (www.ydc.gov.hk/en/programmes/startup/fund.html). Interested NGOs should submit their application(s) before the following deadlines:

     (a) For the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the GBA: on or before June 7
     (b) For the Funding Scheme for Experiential Programmes at Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases: on or before May 17

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

     Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

     The Marine Department today (April 8) reminded masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels navigating in Hong Kong waters to proceed at a safe speed and exercise extreme caution because restricted visibility of less than two nautical miles has been reported.

     Appropriate sound signals shall be made when underway or at anchor. All vessels must comply with the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea.

     Also, when radar is used without the benefit of adequate plotting facilities, the information obtained from the equipment is rather limited and should be construed accordingly.

     Visibility reports are broadcast by the Vessel Traffic Centre (VTC) on VHF channels 02, 12, 14, 63 and 67.

     In the event of an accident, a report shall be made immediately to the VTC at Tel: 2233 7801.