kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
Appointments to Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony
31.5.2023

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs has appointed a new member to the Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony (CPRH), a Government spokesman announced today (May 31). Seven incumbent members have also been reappointed to the Committee in the same appointment exercise. Their term of office will run from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2025. The following is a list of the non-official members of the CPRH: New member: Mr Deep Singh Vinner Reappointed incumbent members: Ms Vivian Kong Man-wai Mr Zaman Minhas Qamar Ms Lamia Sreya Rahman Ms Himeshika Samaradivakara Ms Yvonne Tsui Hang-on Mr Wong Ka-chun Mr Matthew Wong Man-ho Other incumbent members: Mr Syed Ekram Elahi Ms Rita Gurung Mr Avinash Chandiram Hotchandani Mr Mohammad Ilyas Mr Vishal Melwani Ms Tika Rana Dr Chura Bahadur Thapa Mr Yeung Tsz-hei Mr Eric Yuon Fuk-lung The CPRH is a non-statutory advisory body set up to advise the Government on matters relating to fostering racial harmony in the community and to enhance mutual understanding among people of different ethnic origins. Chaired by the Deputy Director of Home Affairs, the Committee includes representatives from the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Labour Department and the Information Services Department. The Race Relations Unit of the Home Affairs Department provides secretariat support to the Committee.
SHYA meets with delegation of Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League of China (with photos)
29.5.2023

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, joined by the Commissioner for Youth, Mr Wallace Lau, met with the delegation of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League of China today (May 29) to exchange views on enhancing youth development and exchanges between Shandong and Hong Kong. Miss Mak welcomed the delegation led by the Secretary of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, Mr Yin Shiyi. She said that Hong Kong and Shandong have always maintained close ties and frequently co-operated in different fields such as business, culture, youth and innovation and technology. The Youth Development Blueprint, which was recently promulgated by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), outlined the overall vision and guiding principles for the Government's long-term youth development work in the future. Among other things, it proposes promoting young people's understanding of the country and encouraging young people to integrate into the overall development of the country. With the resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and the rest of the world, the HYAB is resuming youth internship and exchange activities in a gradual and orderly manner, including Thematic Youth Internship Programmes to the Mainland and the Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland. These programmes offer young people exchange and internship opportunities in different Mainland provinces and cities including Shandong. Miss Mak looks forward to exploring proposals to jointly promote youth development and exchanges with Shandong so as to provide more opportunities for Hong Kong young people to enhance their awareness and understanding of the country.
SHYA meets Tianjin delegation (with photos)
11.5.2023

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, today (May 11) met with a Tianjin delegation to exchange views on strengthening youth development and exchanges between Tianjin and Hong Kong. The Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, and the Commissioner for Youth, Mr Wallace Lau, also joined the meeting. Miss Mak welcomed the delegation led by member of the Standing Committee of the Tianjin Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Head of the United Front Work Department of the Tianjin Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China Mr Ji Guoqiang. Tianjin and Hong Kong are cities with both Chinese and Western cultures, maintaining close co-operation in different fields, such as trade and commerce, finance and cultural exchange. Miss Mak said it is stated in the Youth Development Blueprint released last December that the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) will further enhance the breadth and depth of internship and exchange programmes in the Mainland and overseas. With the resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and the rest of the world, the HYAB is resuming youth internship and exchange activities in a gradual and orderly manner. These include the Scheme on Corporate Summer Internship on the Mainland and Overseas, the Funding Scheme for Youth Internship in the Mainland and the Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland, offering young people exchange and internship opportunities in different Mainland provinces and cities including Tianjin. Miss Mak said, "A nation will prosper only when its young people thrive". The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has always placed great importance on Hong Kong youth development. The Government adopts a multi-pronged approach to promote young people's understanding of the country and the world and to assist young people to integrate into the overall development of the country by capitalising on the opportunities brought by national strategies such as the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development and the Belt and Road Initiative. The HYAB looks forward to exploring proposals to jointly promote youth development and exchanges with Tianjin so as to provide more opportunities for Hong Kong young people to enhance their awareness and understanding of the country.
Selection results for District Services and Community Care Teams in Tsuen Wan and Southern Districts
30.3.2023

The Government has completed the selection for District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams) in Tsuen Wan and Southern districts, and announced the results today (March 30). The number of applicant organisations and a summary of selection results are at Annex 1. The list of selected organisations is at Annex 2. The selection process of the Care Teams consists of two stages: (1) organisation selection stage and (2) service proposal assessment stage. Qualifications of applicant organisations are assessed in the first stage. The applicant organisations must meet all the selection criteria set out in the application guidelines in order to pass the first-stage selection. Organisations that have passed the first stage may submit service proposals for no more than three sub-districts in the second stage. Both stages of the selection have to be vetted by a two-tiered structure, namely the District Assessment and Coordinating Panels on Care Teams chaired by District Officers and the Territory-wide Assessment and Steering Group on Care Teams chaired by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, to ensure its transparency and fairness. Tsuen Wan and Southern District Offices informed and met with the selected organisations respectively earlier today to prepare for the formation of the Care Teams. Tsuen Wan and Southern District Offices will shortly enter into funding agreements with the selected organisations based on the accepted service proposals, with a view to launching the Care Teams in the two districts within April. Details of the Care Teams (including the operating organisation, summary of services and key performance indicators for each sub-district Care Team) are available on the website of the Home Affairs Department ( https://www.had.gov.hk/en/public_services/district_services_community_care_teams/index.htm ).
District Services and Community Care Teams in 16 districts open for applications
13.3.2023

âFurther to the selection for the District Services and Community Care Teams in Tsuen Wan and Southern Districts earlier, Care Teams in the remaining 16 districts open for applications today (March 13). As announced in the 2022 Policy Address, Care Teams will be set up in 18 districts to support the Government's district work and strengthen community network. The Government will delineate each district into different sub-districts, and set up a Care Team in each sub-district. The number of sub-districts in each of the 16 districts is in Annex 1. Organisations will form Care Teams through a selection process. The selection process of Care Teams consists of two stages: (1) organisation selection stage and (2) service proposal assessment stage. In the first stage, the experience in providing services/organising activities, district network, mobilisation capability, etc, of the applicant organisations will be assessed. In the second stage, organisations that have passed the first stage will submit service proposals based on the key performance indicators (KPIs) set by District Offices for individual sub-districts. Organisations that have passed the two-stage selection process will become Care Teams of the sub-districts concerned. The two-stage selection process will be undertaken by the Territory-wide Assessment and Steering Group on Care Teams chaired by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, and District Assessment and Coordinating Panels on Care Teams chaired by District Officers to ensure its transparency and fairness. Guidance on application and the assessment criteria are set out in the application guide ( www.had.gov.hk/en/public_services/district_services_community_care_teams/selection.htm ). Interested organisations should submit the completed application forms and the documents required for the first stage of selection to the District Office concerned on or before March 31. The contact information of the 16 District Offices is in Annex 2. The selection of Care Teams in Tsuen Wan and Southern Districts has commenced earlier and relevant work is under way.
Basic Law Quiz Competition Final and Prize Presentation Ceremony held today (with photos)
11.3.2023

Jointly organised by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education (CPCE) and the Working Group on Local Community under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, the Basic Law Quiz Competition Final and Prize Presentation Ceremony was held today (March 11). The quiz competition this year received an overwhelming response, attracting a record-breaking number of over 32 000 participants. Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, said that the Government of the People's Republic of China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong with effect from July 1, 1997, and established the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in accordance with the provisions of Article 31 of the Constitution. Both the Constitution and the Basic Law form the constitutional basis of the HKSAR. The National People's Congress passed the Decision of the National People's Congress on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the HKSAR to Safeguard National Security and the Decision of the National People's Congress on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR in 2020 and 2021 respectively, authorising the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to establish the National Security Law and amend the Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law, which safeguarded the national security and improved the electoral system, implemented "patriots administering Hong Kong" and achieved a major transition from chaos to order. She added that it is now the pivotal moment of Hong Kong's new journey on advancing from stability to prosperity. Bureaux and departments of the HKSAR Government have been dedicated to enhancing public understanding of the Constitution, the Basic Law and the National Security Law. The quiz competition covered the relationship between the Constitution and the Basic Law, the Basic Law and its history and the National Security Law. The competition comprises the Family, Senior Primary School, Secondary School and Open categories. To tie in with the quiz competition, the organisers hosted two seminars from January to February to introduce to secondary school teachers and students the Constitution and the Basic Law. The HYAB has been working closely with the CPCE in promoting the Constitution, the Basic Law and the National Security Law at the community level through various channels and means, including issuing publications, creating websites and social media pages, producing promotional videos, organising competitions, seminars and exhibitions, as well as sponsoring eligible organisations to organise various promotional and exchange activities on civic and national education.
SHYA visits Chengdu to learn about community-building projects (with photos)
6.6.2024

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, began her visit to Chengdu today (June 6). Miss Mak visited the Jinshui Street community of the Jiancheng subdistrict in Jianyang this morning, and received a briefing on the practical experiences of district governance. She learnt that the services provided and activities organised by the community facility Yijiang Jinshui Community Living Space were aimed at fostering community connections and engagement. The facility also acts as a platform for residents' activities, leisure and exchanges, as well as a provider of convenient services and measures to the residents while maintaining a people-centric approach. Miss Mak stated that the district governance work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is in line with this approach, and will continue to address issues related to people's concerns and resolve problems they have encountered within the district, thereby enhancing people's sense of happiness and contentment, while building a better community. Miss Mak later met with representatives from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government, the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of Chengdu Municipal People's Government and the People's Government of Jianyang City to exchange views on issues of mutual concern. âMiss Mak concluded her visit and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.
SHYA visits Dunhuang to attend inauguration ceremony of youth internship programme (with photos)
3.6.2024

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, departs for Dunhuang today (June 3), to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Dunhuang Youth Internship Programme 2024. The Dunhuang Youth Internship Programme is one of the projects under the Thematic Youth Internship Programmes to the Mainland, providing internship positions for Hong Kong youths at the Dunhuang Academy, allowing them to gain unique work experience under the guidance of experts from the Academy, participate in the promotion of Dunhuang culture, and deepen their understanding of Chinese culture. Miss Mak will officiate at the inauguration ceremony of the internship programme on June 5 and exchange views with the participants. During her visit in Dunhuang, Miss Mak will meet with leaders of the Dunhuang Academy, visit the Academy's facilities, observe the intern's cave-learning activities, and learn about heritage conservation work and the internship programme. After attending the inauguration ceremony, Miss Mak will commence her visit to Chengdu to exchange views with representatives of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government and learn about the city's community projects. âMiss Mak will return to Hong Kong on June 6. During her absence, the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, will act as the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs.
Appointments to Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony
31.5.2024

âThe Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs has appointed three new members to the Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony (CPRH), a Government spokesman announced today (May 31). Five incumbent members have also been reappointed to the Committee in the same appointment exercise. Their term of office will run from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2026. The following is a list of the non-official members of the CPRH: New members: Mr Syed Mohammed Mohiuddin Mrs Marina Rai Mr Baljinder Singh Reappointed incumbent members: Mr Mohammad Ilyas Mr Vishal Melwani Ms Tika Rana Mr Yeung Tsz-hei Mr Eric Yuon Fuk-lung Other incumbent members: Ms Vivian Kong Man-wai Mr Zaman Minhas Qamar Ms Lamia Sreya Rahman Ms Himeshika Samaradivakara Ms Yvonne Tsui Hang-on Mr Deep Singh Vinner Mr Wong Ka-chun Mr Matthew Wong Man-ho The CPRH is a non-statutory advisory body set up to advise the Government on matters relating to fostering racial harmony in the community and to enhance mutual understanding among people of different ethnic origins. Chaired by the Deputy Director of Home Affairs, the Committee includes representatives from the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Labour Department and the Information Services Department. The Race Relations Unit of the Home Affairs Department provides secretariat support to the Committee.
Transcript of remarks by SHYA at media session
11.5.2024

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, at a media session after attending a radio programme today (May 11): Reporter: You said that it's difficult for some owners' corporations to help tenants to reach consensus, for example, like the renovation of some old buildings. So there's scheme like the fire safety direct support services. How effective can this improve the situation? And do you think the authority should take the initiative and reach out to some of these old buildings? Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs: In fact, the Home Affairs Department has been actively assisting and helping the owners' corporations (OCs) reach consensus among their tenants to carry out necessary repair works to maintain their buildings, to make sure that they would observe all the buildings' safety and fire safety requirements. As you said, we have been launching various programmes in helping the OCs carry out various repair works, and help them gather the owners together to form the OCs, and to hold the annual general meetings or the EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting), to reach consensus to carry out those large-scale construction works to make sure that the buildings are in good standard. We will carry out and continue to implement necessary and district-based measures, to help those owners to form OCs, and to help them reach out to other owners, and to give them necessary assistance, as to how to apply for various schemes under different Government departments, so that they can carry out those construction works on time. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Transcript of remarks by SHYA at media session
10.5.2024

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, at a media session after attending the Care Teams in Southern District - First Anniversary and Healthy Life Launching Ceremony today (May 10): Reporter: Can you talk about the future plan of Care Teams? Would there be further expansion of the Care Teams like increase the number of the Care Teams and also maybe more crucial roles the members can have? The second question is on the waste-charging scheme. A green group has proposed the scheme to begin only at government premises and also facilities. So will the Government actually consider this plan? Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs: I am grateful for all members of the Care Teams as they are all volunteers. They have rendered excellent services in our community. They are dedicated to providing district-based services in the community. In case of emergency, our Care Team members always arrive at the scene in a very short time to provide support and assistance to the residents concerned. This kind of service is what we want to deliver in our community. I believe that with the dedicated service of the Care Team members, we can achieve the goal of setting up the Care Teams, that is to gather the resources and efforts of all sectors in the community to benefit residents in the districts. The first phase of the Care Team services will last for two years. After two years, we will definitely review the whole scheme and see how we can enhance and improve the scheme so that more residents can be benefited and we can provide more district-based services to our residents. About the MSW charges (Municipal Solid Waste Charging), I understand from the Environment and Ecology Bureau that they are undergoing different channels to collect views from the residents. I am sure they will definitely consider views from different sectors and all stakeholders and formulate measures that will be beneficial to the society as a whole. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Basic Law Quiz Competition Final and Prize Presentation Ceremony held today (with photos)
21.4.2024

Jointly organised by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education (CPCE) and the Working Group on Local Community under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee, the Basic Law Quiz Competition Final and Prize Presentation Ceremony was held today (April 21). This year's competition received an overwhelming response, attracting a record-breaking number of over 42 000 participants. Speaking at the ceremony, the Acting Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, said that the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) stemmed from the Constitution. Article 31 of the Constitution stipulates that "the state may establish special administrative regions when necessary". The formulation of the Basic Law and the "one country, two systems" principle were also based on the Constitution. Under the "one country, two systems" principle, the Central Government authorises the HKSAR to enact laws on its own to prohibit acts that endanger national security in accordance with Article 23 of the Basic Law. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance officially took effect upon gazettal on March 23, ensuring the effective protection of national security and enhancing social stability and harmony. With safety comes stability; with stability comes prosperity. He added that the HKSAR Government has been dedicated to enhancing public understanding of the Constitution, the Basic Law and the National Security Law, while the ceremony is one of the flagship events of the HYAB. He said he was delighted to know that the number of participants this year reached a record high and thanked the public for their support for the competition. The quiz competition covered the relationship between the Constitution and the Basic Law, the Basic Law and its history and the National Security Law. The competition comprises the Family, Senior Primary School, Secondary School and Open categories. To tie in with the quiz competition, the organisers hosted four seminars in February and March to introduce the Constitution and the Basic Law to secondary and primary school students. The HYAB has long been working closely with the CPCE in promoting the Constitution, the Basic Law and the National Security Law at the community level through various channels and diversified means, including publishing parent-child magazines, creating websites and social media pages, organising competitions, seminars and exhibitions, as well as sponsoring eligible organisations to organise various promotional and exchange activities on civic and national education.