kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
SCS and SFST visit Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices (with photos)
28.1.2021

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, today (January 28) visited Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices (CSWGO) to learn about the operation of a temporary testing station set up for staff working at the building and the resumption of more public services by government departments. Currently 15 government departments have set up offices at CSWGO, providing various public services such as health, district affairs enquiry, registration of persons and death and vehicle licensing services. As two government staff members working at the building have earlier tested positive for COVID-19, the Government Property Agency has set up a temporary testing station at the building from today to February 2 (except Saturday and Sunday) to provide a free virus testing service for staff members who work there. Mr Nip and Mr Hui inspected the station's first day of operation, including the workflow of the testing service and the infection control and social distancing measures put in place there. They also underwent virus testing on-site. Mr Nip and Mr Hui said they believed that early testing can safeguard the safety and health of the staff working at CSWGO, and help clear any doubts of members of the public visiting the premises for various public services. They appealed to all colleagues working at the building to take part in the free testing service for the health of themselves and that of their families and co-workers. Taking into account the needs for the functioning of society and the economy, government departments from today resumed the provision of some basic public services, in addition to emergency services and essential public services. Mr Nip and Mr Hui said they were pleased to learn that the resumption of the provision of more public services by bureaux and departments on the first day was generally smooth. In order to reduce the flows of people and social contact, bureaux and departments have adopted flexible measures to reduce the number of staff working in an office at any one time as far as possible, or stagger work and lunch hours to the widest possible extent. The opening hours of some offices may hence be adjusted and longer waiting and processing times for public services may be needed. The public are encouraged to use alternative means, such as post, drop-in boxes or online channels, to receive the services they need.
SCS visits colleagues on duty at "restricted area" (with photos)
24.1.2021

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, today (January 24) visited civil service colleagues working in different positions in the compulsory testing operation at the specified "restricted area" in Jordan to give them encouragement. Mr Nip also visited the Command Centre to learn more about how colleagues monitored the entire operation and make suitable deployment of supplies and manpower. Mr Nip said, "About 3 000 civil servants from more than a dozen of departments of both the disciplined services and civilian grades participated in the operation. "These colleagues have worked closely together to perform different tasks, such as patrols, door visits, distribution of supplies, registration or various logistical support. "The completion of manpower deployment on such a large scale has been done in a very short time and this hinged on the full support of the heads of the departments as well as the dedication of the civil service. At the same time we are also grateful to the co-operation of members of the public, which has demonstrated that the community is united in the fight against the epidemic to achieve the goal of zero cases."
SCS on Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme and oath-taking by civil servants (with video)
18.1.2021

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, at a media session at the Central Government Offices today (January 18): Reporter: Can I ask why are the four old hotels replaced with four new ones? Is it because their range is between like rather high prices? And secondly, can I also follow up on the civil servants' declaration of allegiance? Can you clarify if civil servants can still take part in peaceful, legal protests? Because you said they can express their views on government policies as citizens but any such expression in public could lead to conflict with their civil servant identity. Thank you. Secretary for the Civil Service: As regards the question concerning the designated hotels, there will be an addition of four hotels to the second round of the Designated Hotel Scheme. Basically in this second round, we have increased the number of hotels that charge at the low-end price, meaning less than a thousand dollars, specifically less than five hundred dollars a night. As regards the four hotels that have decided to withdraw from the Scheme, it is because of their own considerations, commercial reasons and all that. I would not comment on that. For the second round Designated Hotel Scheme, we now have over 80 per cent, actually is 83.5 per cent, of the total number of hotel rooms that would charge below a thousand dollars a night. In response to the question about civil servants participating in peaceful protests, as I said just now, the right of freedom of expression, the freedom of speech and all that are protected under the Basic Law and the relevant Hong Kong legislation. Civil servants, based on our existing circular, except for a certain category of civil servants coming from certain grades, basically can join peaceful protests or demonstrations to express their views because as an individual, they have such rights. But of course in exercising these, make sure that it is peaceful, it is lawful. Also if they want to express their views or do some acts in public, make sure that there will not be some conflicts between the role as an individual citizen and the role as a civil servant. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Latest arrangements of COVID-19 vaccination venues
7.12.2022

The Government announced the latest arrangements of COVID-19 vaccination venues today (December 7). The Yuen Long Community Vaccination Station (CVS) will be set up on December 16. Starting from 9am this Friday (December 9), members of the public can make reservations for vaccination services for themselves or their children through booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk . The new Yuen Long CVS, located at the open space outside the Yuen Long Leisure and Cultural Building, will replace the Community Vaccination Centre (CVC) situated at the arena of the Yuen Long Sports Centre. The Yuen Long CVS will enhance the service and concurrently provide vaccination service with the Sinvoac vaccine (for persons aged 6 months or above), the BioNTech ancestral strain vaccine (for persons aged 12 or above), and the BioNTech bivalent vaccine (as a booster for eligible persons). Persons aged 60 or above can collect same-day tickets at the CVS for vaccination without prior booking. Meanwhile, the three CVCs located in the Yuen Long Sports Centre, the Kwun Chung Sports Centre and the Yuen Wo Road Sports Centre will operate until noon on December 15 and be closed afterwards. The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, "To provide convenience to members of the public in receiving vaccination, we have gradually expanded the service network since September and adopted a more flexible and more cost-effective strategy involving collaboration with private medical organisations, making good use of different venues to set up CVSs or Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations (PCVSs) at locations with convenient transportation or high patronage, and providing vaccination service with more than one kind of vaccine at one vaccination venue. The newly opened Yuen Long CVS is the fourth CVS following the stations at the Lai Chi Kok Park, the Wong Tai Sin Temple Square and the Java Road Playground. "So far, we have returned six sports centres which were formerly used for vaccination to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Together with this round of consolidation in vaccination service network, a total of nine sports centres have been vacated for public enjoyment." The number of PCVSs for members of the public to make online reservations has increased to 26. Also, the 13 COVID-19 Vaccination Stations in public hospitals have enhanced their services earlier to provide the Sinovac and the BioNTech (ancestral strain vaccine/bivalent vaccine) vaccination services. Meanwhile, the Children Community Vaccination Centres, designated general outpatient clinics of the Hospital Authority, Elderly Health Centres, Student Health Service Centres and Maternal and Child Health Centres of the Department of Health, together with some 1 000 private doctors providing COVID-19 vaccination service, will continue to provide the vaccination service for members of the public. The designated website for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme ( www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/programme ) provides the latest information including details on vaccination venues, reservation and enquiry hotlines.
SCS views first-day administration of BioNTech bivalent vaccine (with photos)
1.12.2022

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited the Community Vaccination Centre (CVC) at CUHK Medical Centre today (December 1) to see for herself the BioNTech bivalent vaccination of the public and learn about the views of the vaccine recipients. "So far, about 31 200 persons have made an appointment for receiving the BioNTech bivalent vaccine and the vaccination quotas of various vaccination venues are still very abundant. I would like to remind persons aged 50 or above, in particular elderly persons, that only by receiving suitable doses of the vaccine on time can the protection conferred by the vaccine be maintained," Mrs Yeung said. "With the significant drop in temperature and the number of confirmed cases staying at a high level, we have to get well prepared for winter, during which the virus will be active. Unvaccinated persons should get vaccinated as soon as possible and for those who are due to receive their second, third and even fourth dose, in particular the elderly and children who belong to the high-risk groups, vaccination should allow no delay." Starting from today, the CVCs, the Community Vaccination Stations, the Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Stations, designated general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority and the Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations provide vaccination service with the BioNTech bivalent vaccine to eligible persons aged 12 or above as an alternative to the fourth dose (or the third dose for recovered persons) in accordance with health authorities' guidelines, while the Sinovac or the BioNTech ancestral strain vaccines can still be used. Members of the public may refer to the information by the Department of Health to learn more about the respective dosage and intervals of vaccine for different age groups and recovered persons: www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/pdf/Poster_recommend_third_dose.pdf . The designated website for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme ( www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/programme ) provides the latest information including details on vaccination venues, reservation and enquiry hotlines.
Transcript of remarks by SCS at media session
26.11.2022

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (November 26): Reporter: As many people have been infected already, are you worried that these people may think there is no need for them to get vaccinated? Secretary for the Civil Service: We have always called upon those who have been infected to think about the need for vaccination. If they have already got three doses of COVID vaccine, then there may not be a need for them to have further doses. But if they have only two or only got one, or if they have not been vaccinated at all, then they should follow our instructions. There are very clear instructions set out in our website. As to the number of doses that they should have, we have always been publicising this message. For children in particular, we have been telling parents that even if their children have got infected, they should still arrange for them to have the COVID vaccine. Reporter: So how should they choose between the new booster and previous version? Are you worried that those people will choose the new version? Secretary for the Civil Service: Actually, the BioNTech bivalent vaccine is only for those who are having their fourth dose. So those who are having their first to third dose, they would not have this choice of bivalent vaccine or the one that we have already been using. Only those who are taking the fourth dose need to choose between the bivalent or the old one. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Bookings for vaccination with BioNTech bivalent vaccine opens to eligible persons tomorrow
26.11.2022

Eligible persons aged 12 or above may choose to receive the BioNTech bivalent vaccine from December 1, and online reservations will open from 9am tomorrow (November 27). In view of the arrival of the Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5 bivalent vaccine yesterday (November 25), the online booking system has been updated to provide options for eligible persons when making appointment. Eligible persons aged 60 or above with same-day tickets may choose the type of vaccine to be administered on site. The BioNTech bivalent vaccine can be used as an alternative to the fourth dose (or the third dose for recovered persons) for eligible persons aged 12 or above following the current vaccination schedule, while the Sinovac or the BioNTech ancestral strain vaccines can still be used. The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said, "Vaccination venues providing the BioNTech bivalent vaccine include the Community Vaccination Centres, the Community Vaccination Stations, the Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Stations, designated general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority and the Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations. These vaccination venues will only provide vaccination service with the BioNTech bivalent vaccine to eligible persons in accordance with health authorities' guidelines, while persons who have not been vaccinated or received the suitable doses of vaccine are not allowed to choose to receive the bivalent vaccine. "The key to maintain the protection conferred by the vaccine is to receive suitable doses following the vaccination schedule, and the COVID-19 vaccines available in Hong Kong are safe and effective. As the protection conferred by the vaccines will diminish over time, we appeal to the members of the public who have not received suitable doses of vaccine to get the suitable doses as soon as possible for self-protection, in particular high-risk persons such as the elderly." For the eligibility to receive the BioNTech bivalent vaccine, please refer to the press release: www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202211/25/P2022112500520.htm . The online booking system website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk .
Civil Service College holds 11th talk of series on country's foreign affairs (with photos)
25.11.2022

The Civil Service College held the 11th talk of the series on the country's foreign affairs jointly with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (OCMFA) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (November 25). As the finale of this series, the talk, on the topic of "Global Climate Governance and International Co-operation on Climate Change", was delivered via video-conferencing by Special Representative for Climate Change Negotiations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr Qi Dahai. Over 130 civil servants in the directorate and senior ranks took part in the talk through online access. Addressing the talk, the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, said that combating climate change is an important issue across the globe. The country actively engages in the global governance on climate change, implements a series of strategies, measures and actions, and makes important pledges on addressing climate change. The HKSAR Government actively supports the green development strategy of the country and shoulders the responsibility of promoting decarbonisation. Hong Kong will continue to serve the country's needs with Hong Kong's strengths, and contribute to green development of the motherland and the world. There is a need for civil servants to acquire a deeper understanding of the global governance of climate change and decarbonisation so as to act in better concert with the country's overall strategy in handling the relevant areas of work. A thematic briefing session on "International Landscape and China's Foreign Relations in 2021", delivered by the Commissioner, Mr Liu Guangyuan, in December 2021, opened the series of talks on the country's foreign affairs. Since then, monthly talks on different topics delivered by relevant officials of the MFA have been held with a total attendance of 3 200 by civil servants in the directorate and senior ranks.
CSB Volunteer Team takes part in volunteer activity by social enterprise restaurant (with photos)
19.11.2022

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, today (November 19) led the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) Volunteer Team to Gingko House, a social enterprise restaurant in Yau Ma Tei that advocates senior employment, to participate in its volunteer activity. The volunteers worked as a team and helped to prepare food in the kitchen and at different positions in the restaurant, packed the meal boxes and soup boxes and then arranged to distribute the meal packs to around 150 elderly or people in need to express their care. They also provided information on COVID-19 vaccination to those who are yet to get vaccinated. Mrs Yeung said, "The CSB Volunteer Team has always been in contact with various social welfare groups and local organisations, and actively participated in community care activities to support people in need. Once the epidemic subsided this year, the team organised various activities to support children from grass-roots families, the elderly and the Home Vaccination Service. "Currently, 56 government bureaux and departments have set up their volunteer teams. I encourage government bureaux and departments to organise more diverse volunteer services with a view to nurturing a community-caring and people-oriented service culture in the civil service. Through interacting with people in the community during the volunteer services, the civil service can get to know more about their needs," she added.
SCS undergoing home quarantine
10.11.2022

A spokesman for the Civil Service Bureau said today (November 10) that the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, is undergoing home quarantine in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, as the domestic helper in her household tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test. Mrs Yeung will work from home during the quarantine period. Mrs Yeung has been taking COVID-19 nucleic acid tests regularly. Her test result sample done yesterday (November 9) evening was negative. She also tested negative after conducting a COVID-19 rapid antigen test today. She has worn masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work.
SCS views concurrent provision of two types of vaccine at Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Stations on first day (with photos)
31.10.2022

The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, visited the Queen Mary Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Station today (October 31) to view the first-day operation of the station in providing the Sinovac and BioNTech vaccination service to the public. All of the 13 COVID-19 Vaccination Stations in public hospitals (HCVSs) provide both kinds of vaccine concurrently for members of the public to choose for vaccination starting from today. Mrs Yeung said that members of the public could walk in to receive only the BioNTech vaccine after their follow-up medical appointments at hospitals in the past, and now they can opt for the Sinovac vaccine without prior booking. The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has been in place for over a year and a half and both the medical personnel and the administrative support staff have accumulated a wealth of experience in their work. The operation mode of providing two types of vaccine at each HCVS is more flexible and offers the greatest convenience to members of the public. Apart from the service enhancement at the HCVSs, the Millennium City 5 Community Vaccination Centre in Kwun Tong and the Lai Chi Kok Park Community Vaccination Station (CVS) also enhanced their services today from providing the Sinovac vaccine only in the past to providing the Sinovac and BioNTech vaccines concurrently for the public to choose from. Meanwhile, the Java Road Playground CVS (near Exit C of MTR Quarry Bay Station) commenced service today. Persons aged between 6 months and below 12 can receive the Sinovac vaccine at the above vaccination venues while those aged 12 or above can choose to receive the Sinovac vaccine or the BioNTech vaccine. Mrs Yeung appealed to members of the public to be mindful of receiving suitable doses of COVID-19 vaccine on time for the sake of their own health and to arrange vaccination for the elderly and young children in their family. Apart from the HCVSs, the designated general outpatient clinics of the Hospital Authority, Maternal and Child Health Centres, Elderly Health Centres and Student Health Service Centres of the Department of Health, together with the Children Community Vaccination Centres and the 26 Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations in various districts, etc, have built up a convenient vaccination network with wide coverage offering daily vaccination capacity up to 63 000 doses. The designated website for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme ( www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/programme ) provides the latest information including details on vaccination venues, reservation and enquiry hotlines.