kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
SCS speaks on COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
15.9.2021

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, at a media session after attending the Legislative Council Public Works Subcommittee meeting this morning (September 15): Reporter: Officials have kind of mentioned that they will be sending teams to go up to housing estates to kind of convince more elderly people to get vaccinated. When will that plan start? Do you have like a certain target of which district maybe? Secretary for the Civil Service: Currently, we are focusing our efforts in organising health talks, medical consultations and on-site vaccinations in various districts. These involve the local personalities to mobilise the elderly in the districts to come to the health talks and then to receive the vaccination. We will review the process and if necessary, of course, we could send teams to the homes of the elderly to facilitate them to vaccinate. But now, I think our focus is on organising these health talks and also organising vaccination outreach at shopping malls or public housing estates. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
CSB holds talk on country's foreign policies (with photos)
14.9.2021

The Civil Service Bureau today (September 14) held a thematic talk delivered by Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Mr Yang Yirui on the topic of "China - United States Relations and the Future of Hong Kong". Addressing the talk, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, said, "The country has entered a new era of development and, with the remarkable achievements made on various fronts including the economic, social, cultural, sports and technological fronts, the country has also grown significantly in international standing. Notwithstanding the increasingly sophisticated international landscape, including the China - United States relations, the country remains committed to a foreign policy of peace and to the path of peaceful development. The country is also committed to building a new type of international relations and a human community with a shared future. Splendid results have been achieved. "With the implementation of the National Security Law and improvements to the electoral system, Hong Kong can stay true to the original aspiration in implementing the principle of 'one country, two systems' and is back on the right track. Hong Kong is entering a time of transformation from chaos to stability and further to prosperity. Under the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Central Authorities give Hong Kong further support in consolidating and strengthening its competitive advantages, establishing itself as a functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, and building a high-quality Greater Bay Area. The Plan also supports Hong Kong to foster co-operation and exchanges with countries and regions around the world. As said by the Chief Executive, Hong Kong will continue to leverage on its advantages under 'one country, two systems' and proactively become a participant in domestic circulation and a facilitator in international circulation, and make our contributions to the country's Belt and Road Initiative." Mr Nip stressed that the civil service, as the backbone of the HKSAR Government, should acquire a better understanding of the national development strategy and the evolving international landscape so as to act in better accord with the country's future development and address the new expectations for Hong Kong under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. The talk was attended by around 400 civil servants in the directorate as well as middle and senior ranks. In view of the large number of participants, some participants took part in the talk through simulcast at the Civil Service Training and Development Institute at North Point Government Offices.
SCS speaks on COVID-19 Vaccination Programme 
11.9.2021

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (September 11): Reporter: What will you do to boost the vaccination rate among the elderly? Would you send vaccination teams to the homes to get them a jab? Are you saying that you will allow everyone to have walk-in jabs at vaccination centres? Secretary for the Civil Service: Our focus in the coming months is to boost up the vaccination rate for the elderly because they are the vulnerable group that we have to protect, and to build a strong protective shield in the community. We will try every possible channel to facilitate the elderly to get the jabs including arranging outreach service at shopping malls, in housing estates, or arranging talks, medical consultation and vaccination service on site in different districts. As regards the Community Vaccination Centres, apart from easy booking, we also arrange the same-day tickets for the elderly. We will review the situation and very much depending on the capacity of the Community Vaccination Centres. If possible, we will of course consider expanding the coverage of the same-day tickets to facilitate more people including the elderly to get the jabs easily. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Outreach team continues its efforts to provide COVID-19 vaccination service (with photos)
6.9.2021

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Chairman of Wheelock and Company Limited, Mr Douglas Woo, jointly viewed the administering of the BioNTech vaccine to a group of about 230 persons including staff members of the enterprise and their family members through the Government's outreach vaccination service today (September 6). "As the epidemic remains severe around the globe, and in the face of the threat posed by mutant strains, there is a pressing need to get vaccinated. We must do our best to increase the vaccination rate. Basically, persons who are suitable for vaccination should get vaccinated so as to protect themselves and others," Mr Nip said. "For the continuation of economic activities and the prevention of a new wave of the epidemic in the community, it is essential for operators of enterprises or organisations to get fully prepared and for their employees to get vaccinated or to undergo regular testing. I appeal to them to follow the Government's practice to require all employees, except those medically unfit, to receive vaccination or undergo regular virus testing at their own expense." Since the launch of the outreach vaccination service by the Civil Service Bureau, the outreach service team has provided the vaccination service to enterprises and organisations 113 times, benefiting about 16,300 persons. Those enterprises and organisations include the Hong Kong Sports Institute, global professional services enterprises, property developers, financial institutions, a television broadcaster, the construction industry, public utilities, property management companies, universities, theme parks, insurance enterprises and district organisations, elderly centres and shopping malls. Mr Nip expressed his gratitude to the medical team and administrative support staff of the Community Vaccination Centre at Ho Man Tin Sports Centre for providing the outreach service today. Members of the public can get more information on vaccines and make reservations on the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme ( www.covidvaccine.gov.hk ).
Relatives of residents of residential care homes for elderly participate in health talk on vaccination (with photos)
4.9.2021

About 170 family members of residents of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) participated in a health talk on vaccination in Lai Chi Kok in person or online, the first specifically held for relatives of RCHE residents today (September 4). During the talk, several volunteer doctors briefed the participants about information on the COVID-19 vaccines and provided them with one-on-one consultation service after the talk. Arrangements were also made for some participants to visit a nearby Community Vaccination Centre for vaccination afterwards. Attending the event to promote about COVID-19 vaccination, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, said, "With the appearance of the highly transmissible mutant strain, keeping up the anti-epidemic efforts at residential care homes is of utmost importance. However, less than 10 per cent of RCHE residents have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. To encourage them to get vaccinated, the support and encouragement from their family is very important." "Some RCHE residents or their family members may not have a thorough understanding of the vaccines. They are also not sure if the physical conditions of residents are suitable for vaccination and may have a mistaken belief that it is fine for them not to get vaccinated. In fact, elderly persons are the group of persons that should get vaccinated immediately in view of the comparatively higher risk for infected elderly to fall seriously ill and die. I appeal to those family members who are still hesitant to act and encourage their relatives to get vaccinated as soon as possible. This is the best way to show their care and love for their family members. Both COVID-19 vaccines available in Hong Kong are safe and highly effective in protecting against severe diseases and death from COVID-19 infection." "With the immense support and efforts by a number of enthusiastic persons today, in particular the Hong Kong Geriatrics Society and those volunteer doctors, we hope that residents of RCHEs, their family members or elderly persons will understand that we all should learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines in an objective manner and get vaccinated as soon as possible." Mr Nip expressed gratitude to the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, RCHEs of Po Leung Kuk and RCHEs in Sham Shui Po district for assisting in inviting family members of residents of their RCHEs to attend the talk. Today's event was jointly organised by the Civil Service Bureau, the Social Welfare Department and the Department of Health.
Government's outreach COVID-19 vaccination service team goes into shopping mall again (with photos)
2.9.2021

Following the provision of a walk-in service for COVID-19 vaccination at a shopping mall in Kwun Tong, the Government's outreach vaccination team provided the BioNTech vaccination service to tenants of a shopping centre and members of the public at a temporary vaccination area in Lok Fu Place today (September 2). The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Chief Executive Officer of Link Asset Management Limited (the Link), Mr George Hongchoy, jointly viewed the administering of the vaccine to members of the public there. "The Link has joined hands with the Government in promoting the 'Early Vaccination for All' campaign through the setting up of a temporary vaccination area in this shopping centre to raise the vaccination rate. I hope such an arrangement will assist those persons who want to get vaccinated to do so immediately as well as the elderly persons and residents nearby. It can also draw people's attention to the importance and urgency of getting vaccinated when walking past this area. I appeal to elderly persons to grasp the opportunity to get vaccinated before the winter influenza season arrives. This is the best way to protect oneself under the current epidemic," Mr Nip said. "The Vaccination Programme has been in place for more than six months with the provision of outreach vaccination service initially mainly to enterprises. It is the time to move the focus at the district level to enable more people to get vaccinated by using various methods in districts." Currently, the channels of vaccination are very convenient. Members of the public can make online reservations on the designated website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme ( www.covidvaccine.gov.hk ) for vaccination at Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) or general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority, or make vaccination appointments direct with private doctors or clinics enrolled in the programme. In addition, same-day tickets are available for distribution at 21 CVCs each day to persons aged 60 or above and students aged 12 or above so that they can receive vaccination in a CVC at a designated time slot on the day of distribution. Mr Nip expressed his gratitude to the medical team and administrative support staff of the Community Vaccination Centre at Ho Man Tin Sports Centre for providing the outreach service today.
Private doctor provides on-site COVID-19 vaccination service at elderly centre (with photos)
31.8.2021

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, visited Haven of Hope Christian Service District Elderly Community Service - Kin Ming Centre in Tseung Kwan O today (August 31) to view the administering of the Sinovac vaccine to around 30 elderly persons aged between 65 and 95 through the outreach service by a doctor enrolled under the vaccination subsidy scheme. Today was the first time three elderly centres had jointly arranged to provide on-site COVID-19 vaccination service to elderly persons through a doctor. Arrangements were also made for elderly persons who opted for the BioNTech vaccine to visit a nearby Community Vaccination Centre (CVC) for vaccination. The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, said, "Apart from providing vaccination services at larger institutions or organisations, the outreach vaccination team will also make arrangements for visiting doctors to provide a flexible and convenient vaccination service for the elderly at small-scale elderly centres." Elderly centres provide community support services to the elderly at district level and serve as a gathering place for them. The Department of Health has a list of doctors providing COVID-19 vaccination in a non-clinic setting which can serve as a reference to make contacts for persons in charge of elderly centres. Mr Nip appealed to persons in charge of elderly centres as well as practitioners in district welfare to be more proactive in arranging for doctors to provide vaccination services for elderly persons or their members at their centres. "The world is being ravaged by the Delta mutant strain. Hong Kong has to build an immune barrier by further raising the vaccination rate. Elderly persons will be subject to extremely high risk of getting seriously ill and death if there is another wave of the epidemic and hence we are in full swing to promote vaccination of elderly persons. Although the number of people receiving vaccination at elderly centres may not be high, we will make our best endeavours to do so as they are the group of persons that we want to protect the most. I hope that elderly persons and their family members will act and get vaccinated immediately. Experts recommend that all elderly people who have previously received influenza vaccines can safely receive COVID-19 vaccines," he added. Moreover, the Government has been distributing same-day tickets to persons aged 60 or above to receive vaccination at CVCs. It has also organised health talks cum vaccination activities with district organisations for elderly persons. The "one-stop" arrangement of providing talks, question and answer sessions and vaccination service have not only enhanced elderly persons' understanding of the vaccines and eased their concerns, but also facilitated them to get vaccinated.
Civil Service College Logo Design Competition comes up with winning entry as college logo (with photos)
26.8.2021

The Civil Service College Logo Design Competition concluded successfully with an award presentation ceremony held at Central Government Offices today (August 26). The Gold Award entry will be adopted as the logo of the Civil Service College. The Gold Award entry, entitled "Staircase", symbolises the commitment of the civil service to growing as a learning and professional team through continuous learning and ongoing enhancement, and striving for excellence in the delivery of public service. The Chairman of the Civil Service Training Advisory Board, Dr Victor Fung; the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip; and the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, presented the awards to the winners. A spokesman for the Civil Service Bureau said that the competition aimed at encouraging all serving colleagues and retired civil servants to show their creativity in designing a logo for the Civil Service College and join the efforts of promoting the objective of the College as an institution dedicated to civil service training. The competition received an enthusiastic response, with over 600 entries from participants of more than 60 bureaux/departments. The judging panel was chaired by Dr Fung. Members included government officials and representatives from professional bodies. Entries winning the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards and three Meritorious Awards were selected after two rounds of adjudication. The Civil Service College is expected to be established by the end of this year. The Civil Service Bureau is upgrading the existing facilities of the Civil Service Training and Development Institute at the North Point Government Offices, so as to enable the premises to be used as the College's interim accommodation upon its establishment. At the same time, the Government is pressing ahead with the Kwun Tong Composite Development Project, which will provide, among others, the long-term accommodation for the Civil Service College. The Government plans to seek funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for the capital works of the project within the current legislative session.
SCS grieves over passing of LCSD artisan
18.8.2021

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, today (August 18) expressed deep sorrow over the passing of an artisan of the Hong Kong West Tree Team of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) who was carrying out duties in Sai Ying Pun this morning. Mr Nip said, "On behalf of the civil service, I offer my deepest condolences to her family. The Civil Service Bureau has contacted the LCSD and will make every effort to help the family during this sad and difficult period." Mr Nip also sent his regards to another colleague who was injured in the incident and wished him a speedy recovery.
SCS visits Government Flying Service (with photos) 
18.8.2021

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, visited the Government Flying Service (GFS) today (August 18) to meet with its management and staff of various grades to learn more about their work and matters of concern. Mr Nip and the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, first took a helicopter ride at the GFS' helipad in Wan Chai. Accompanied by the Chief Pilot (Operations) of the GFS, Captain James Sze, they experienced the work of aircrew in flight and watched a simulated coastal rescue. Mr Nip said he was pleased to learn that frontline aircrew conduct these simulated drills and training regularly in order to enhance emergency response capabilities and efficiency. At Chek Lap Kok Headquarters, Mr Nip toured the Hangar and the Air Command and Control Centre, where he was briefed about the GFS' aircraft fleet and related equipment as well as maintenance activities. He also received a briefing on how colleagues deployed aircraft and manpower in accordance with various operational needs and emergency responses. Mr Nip then met with the Controller of the GFS, Captain West Wu, and the directorate staff to get an update on the work of various divisions and the challenges ahead. He also met with staff representatives of various grades and exchanged views on matters that concern them. Mr Nip said he was pleased to know that since the outbreak of COVID-19, the GFS has been maintaining strong awareness of epidemic prevention. So far, over 90 per cent of colleagues of the department had received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, which help build a protective barrier in society. Meanwhile, he encouraged colleagues to work with dedication and continue to provide quality and efficient aviation support for the public as well as government departments.
SCS encourages non-ethnic Chinese interns to prepare well to meet challenges ahead (with photos)
9.8.2021

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, today (August 9) met with non-ethnic Chinese (NEC) students participating in a government internship programme to learn about their internship experience and takeaways. He encouraged them to keep up their efforts to enrich themselves so as to meet the challenges ahead. Mr Nip said that, the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) had launched this internship programme specifically for NEC students since 2019, to assist young NEC in acquiring work experience and enhancing their competitiveness for employment. The programme has been well received and so far around 80 post-secondary NEC students have taken part in the programme. "NEC are very much a part of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to promoting equal opportunities for NEC and helping them, particularly their younger generation, to unleash their potential and thrive in society," Mr Nip said. "To increase government job opportunities for NEC, the CSB has all along been reminding Heads of Departments and Grades to review on an on-going basis and ensure that the Chinese language proficiency requirements of related civil service jobs are no more than necessary for the performance of the job, so that NEC people would have equal access to government job opportunities like other applicants. "The Government has also strengthened its promotional efforts, hoping to enable NEC to gain a better understanding of civil service job opportunities and the operation of the Government with a view to attracting them to join the civil service and serve society. This internship programme is one of our notable measures." This year, a total of 35 NEC students have been posted to various government bureaux and departments for an internship lasting about eight weeks. Some placements were relevant to the provision of public services to NEC communities and required knowledge of NEC languages or cultures. The participants generally hold the view that the internship programme has broadened their exposure and enabled them to obtain a more in-depth understanding of the Government's efforts in supporting NEC communities.