Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
Yellow fire danger warning
The fire danger situation today (April 1) is yellow and the risk of fire is high. People are urged to prevent fires breaking out and hikers should also be vigilant.
​Regarding media enquiries about the creation of directorate posts, a Government spokesman gave the following reply today (March 31):
To ensure the sustainability of public finances, the Government has strictly controlled the civil service establishment since 2021-22. In 2024-25, the Government will continue to maintain its target of zero growth in the civil service establishment, with the aim of containing the overall establishment at a level not exceeding that as at end-March 2021.
Maintaining the target of zero growth in the overall establishment does not imply that there can be no growth in the establishment of individual bureaux/departments (B/D). The establishment of individual B/Ds, including directorate and non-directorate posts as well as permanent and time-limited posts, may still increase having regard to operational needs and with full justifications. However, on the premise of maintaining zero growth in the civil service establishment, the number of posts created by the Government will not exceed that of the posts expected to be deleted.
As compared to that of end-March 2021, despite the continuous increase in public services, not only has the size of civil service establishment not increased in the four-year period, but has reduced by about 2 000 posts on an accumulated basis.
The civil service establishment includes posts on the permanent establishment and time-limited posts. Time-limited directorate posts are referred to as "supernumerary directorate posts", which are posts on the non-permanent establishment. It does not mean that they are counted outside the establishment. To avoid misunderstanding, the Government has clearly pointed out in its submissions to the Legislative Council (LegCo) since November last year that time-limited directorate posts are also counted towards the establishment and there is absolutely no "double-talk".
The number of directorate posts accounts for less than one per cent of the overall civil service establishment. The Government has a rigorious mechanism to ensure that any proposal for the creation of a directorate post is supported with full justifications and the concerned post has a substantial operational need before seeking necessary approval from the LegCo. While the change in individual non-directorate posts does not require the approval of the LegCo, any increase will be subject to stringent internal scrutiny by the Government.
In 2024, the Government expects to submit proposals to the Establishment Subcommittee of the LegCo to create four permanent civil service directorate posts and four time-limited civil service directorate posts, and to retain three time-limited civil service directorate posts. The proposed number of civil service directorate posts represents a significant reduction compared to the number of posts proposed to be created in the past few years. The same applies to non-directorate posts.
From March 29 to 31, "Customs YES" co-organised the Guangdong Innovation and Technology Exploration Trip with the Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation. The Deputy Commissioner (Management and Strategic Development) of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, led 36 members of "Customs YES" to innovation and technology (I&T) hubs in Guangdong Province to explore the latest I&T developments of the country. Through visits to these I&T hubs, the young people gained an in-depth understanding of the I&T industry of the Mainland and the I&T development of the country, which helps them get better prepared for their future advancement in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
The delegation first visited Huawei Town in Songshan Lake, Dongguan, and toured the library and the Enterprise Business Descartes Exhibition Hall there to learn about the achievements of Huawei, a global leading I&T company, in the fields of telecommunications, network, cloud computing, etc. Later, the group visited the China Spallation Neutron Source, where the first pulsed neutron source facility in China is housed, to appreciate the country's accomplishments in materials science, life science and energy development, etc.
The delegation then proceeded to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Guangdong) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation Base where one-stop entrepreneurial and incubation services are provided for youth. "Customs Yes" members also exchanged views and shared their plans with local entrepreneurial experts for feedback and guidance, enabling them to better understand the entrepreneurial environment, market demands, as well as the way to integrate their aspirations with the opportunities in the GBA.
During the visit to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) in Nansha, the group toured the University's Maker Space and the Metaverse Joint Innovation Laboratory to understand the I&T talent developments of the country.
In the future, "Customs YES" will organise more learning activities on the Mainland to deepen youth's understanding on the latest developments of the country and the opportunities and contributions of Hong Kong along the course.
From March 29 to 31, "Customs YES" co-organised the Guangdong Innovation and Technology Exploration Trip with the Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation. The Deputy Commissioner (Management and Strategic Development) of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, led 36 members of "Customs YES" to innovation and technology (I&T) hubs in Guangdong Province to explore the latest I&T developments of the country. Through visits to these I&T hubs, the young people gained an in-depth understanding of the I&T industry of the Mainland and the I&T development of the country, which helps them get better prepared for their future advancement in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
The delegation first visited Huawei Town in Songshan Lake, Dongguan, and toured the library and the Enterprise Business Descartes Exhibition Hall there to learn about the achievements of Huawei, a global leading I&T company, in the fields of telecommunications, network, cloud computing, etc. Later, the group visited the China Spallation Neutron Source, where the first pulsed neutron source facility in China is housed, to appreciate the country's accomplishments in materials science, life science and energy development, etc.
The delegation then proceeded to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Guangdong) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation Base where one-stop entrepreneurial and incubation services are provided for youth. "Customs Yes" members also exchanged views and shared their plans with local entrepreneurial experts for feedback and guidance, enabling them to better understand the entrepreneurial environment, market demands, as well as the way to integrate their aspirations with the opportunities in the GBA.
During the visit to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) in Nansha, the group toured the University's Maker Space and the Metaverse Joint Innovation Laboratory to understand the I&T talent developments of the country.
In the future, "Customs YES" will organise more learning activities on the Mainland to deepen youth's understanding on the latest developments of the country and the opportunities and contributions of Hong Kong along the course.
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with parainfluenza virus in a special care baby unit, the spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital made the following update today (March 31):
One more baby, a 10-month-old female, presented with fever. Appropriate tests were arranged for the patient and the result was positive to parainfluenza virus. The patient is being treated in isolation and in stable condition.
Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward are under close surveillance.
The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.