The Education Bureau (EDB) organised the Family Fun Party cum Prize Presentation Ceremony today (December 15) at Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre to encourage parents and children to practise healthy lifestyles through engaging in outdoor recreation and sports activities. Around 220 parents and children participated in a parent-child treasure hunt competition under the theme of developing healthy lifestyles, and completed various parent-child challenges together. 

     The EDB presented awards to the winning schools, students and parents of the parent-child treasure hunt competition as well as the Healthy Living, Happy Family Series – Picturise Your Messages Sticker Design Competition at the prize presentation ceremony of the Fun Party in recognition of their participation in the events of the Positive Parent Campaign and promotion of healthy living. 

     Speaking at the ceremony, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, said that self-image as well as the physical and psychological well-being of children and adolescents are closely related to the family. He hoped that parents and children could recognise and experience the importance of developing healthy lifestyles through this experiential activity and incorporate these experiences into their daily lives. 

     The EDB has earlier organised the Healthy Living, Happy Family Series – Picturise Your Messages Sticker Design Competition to encourage parents to develop healthy lifestyles with their families to enable the happy and healthy development of their children. The competition comprises three groups, namely kindergarten, primary and secondary groups. It was well received and over 4 000 entries were recorded from more than 5 600 parents and students. Participants conveyed the message of developing healthy lifestyles in different ways, and most of the entries were creative and echoed the theme of heathy living. The adjudication panel had earlier selected 15 outstanding entries in each group for online voting by the public. 

     The EDB has been running the Positive Parent Campaign since June 2020 to promote positive parent education through extensive and diversified channels with a view to fostering parents' positive thinking and promoting proper ways and attitudes of nurturing children, thereby developing in parents a positive and optimistic mindset that contributes to the effective learning and happy development of children. For the latest information of the Positive Parent Campaign, please visit the EDB Smart Parent Net website (www.parent.edu.hk/en) or follow the Facebook (www.facebook.com/parents.edu.hk) and Instagram pages (www.instagram.com/parents.edu.hk) of the Smart Parent Net.

      

     The Civil Aid Service (CAS) held the 89th Recruits Passing-out Parade at its headquarters today (December 15). The parade was reviewed by the Controller of the Government Flying Service (GFS), Captain West Wu.
 
     Speaking at the Parade, Captain Wu said that the CAS had been working closely with the GFS over the years. Members of the CAS Mountain Search and Rescue Company (MSaR) were on duty at the headquarters and the Kai Tak Division of the GFS on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. When members of public encountered hiking accidents, the crewmen of the GFS, together with CAS MSaR members, would head to the site swiftly in a helicopter to provide appropriate assistance. Every year, the CAS also works with other government departments, including the GFS and other organisations, to organise the Mountaineering Safety Promotion Day to advocate mountaineering safety to the public. The number of cases of requests for assistance by hikers has decreased from over 1 000 in 2022 to about 400 in the third quarter of this year. From this, it can be seen that the CAS has spared no efforts in enhancing mountaineering safety awareness.
 
     Captain Wu said that the CAS also provides rescue services. For instance, during Typhoons Yagi and Toraji, the CAS deployed more than 200 personnel to help members of the public in need in various districts. Recently, under the combined effects of a spring tide and Typhoon Man-yi, flooding took place in various parts of the territory. CAS members provided assistance to the public in Sha Tau Kok, Tai O and Lei Yue Mun. In addition, the CAS deploys more than 100 people every weekend to the Kai Tak Sports Park to participate in drills and perform crowd management duties in test events, in preparation for the 15th National Games next year.
 
     Captain Wu said that the CAS attaches great importance to the development of national security. In recent years, the CAS has been expanding the scope of youth exchange activities, and has incorporated visits to the National Security Exhibition Gallery into the training programmes for new recruits in order to strengthen their sense of belonging to the country.
 
     Captain Wu said that loving the motherland and Hong Kong is the core spirit of the community and an essential foundation for the steadfast and successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" arrangement. He added that the graduates' strong commitment to serving Hong Kong is indispensable to maintaining the community's prosperity and stability, safeguarding national security and upholding the "one country, two system" principle. He encouraged graduates to learn from their experiences, face challenges with determination, stay true to their original aspirations, and move forward. He firmly believes that they will unite, work hard, and grow stronger together, upholding the CAS pledge of "Provide Emergency Relief, Serve the Community" to wholeheartedly serve the public.
  
     Captain Wu presented awards to outstanding recruits at the ceremony. The graduates also performed a fire fighting and a rescue demonstration to showcase their learning outcomes.
 
     A total of 52 recruits from diverse backgrounds of society were reviewed at the parade. The CAS Recruit Training Certificate Programme has been recognised under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework as meeting the accreditation standards at Level 3 by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications. Graduates will be awarded the Certificate in Auxiliary Forces Basic Training (Civil Defence). The graduates will apply their acquired knowledge and skills to serve society.
 
     Recruitment of CAS Grade IV Officers and Grade I Members is open for application throughout the year. Recruitment details and application forms are available on the CAS website (www.cas.gov.hk/eng/adult_recruitment.html).

          

Attention TV/radio announcers:

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

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (December 15) that Tin Sau Road Swimming Pool in Yuen Long District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 7pm today.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

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 (December 15) that due to big waves, red flag have been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:

     The Liquor Licensing Board will meet on Tuesday (December 17) to consider two applications for new issue and renewal of liquor licences.

     â€‹The applications are (not in order of discussion):
 
Kowloon:
———–
STAGE ONE BAR in Prince Edward
City University of Hong Kong – Faculty Lounge in Kowloon Tong

     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Members of the public are welcome to attend.