Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, led the Indian delegation at the BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting held under Brazil’s Presidency in Brasília on 25th April 2025. The meeting, convened under the slogan “Strengthening the Cooperation of the Global South for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”, culminated in the adoption of a forward-looking declaration addressing two pivotal themes: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Future of Work” and “The Impacts of Climate Change on the World of Work and a Just Transition”.
Sushri Karandlaje highlighted India’s human-centric approach to technological transformation, aligning with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of “Technology for Empowerment, Not Exclusion”. She highlighted India’s National Strategy for AI, which prioritizes ethical adoption, workforce upskilling, and sectoral applications in agriculture, healthcare, and education. Initiatives like FutureSkills Prime and the Namo Drone Didi program exemplify India’s commitment to creating tech-enabled livelihoods, especially for rural women and youth. The National Career Service (NCS) platform, powered by AI, was showcased as a model for bridging skill gaps and connecting millions to employment opportunities.
On climate action, India emphasized it’s just transition framework, ensuring green growth translates into equitable job creation. The Sector Skill Council for Green Jobs (SSCGJ) and Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) were highlighted as transformative initiatives driving skilling and sustainable practices. India’s achievement of reduction in GHG emissions (2020–2019) and its net-zero by 2070 pledge reinforced its climate leadership. Collaborative efforts with the ILO to protect workers’ rights during this transition were also emphasized.
Key Outcomes of the BRICS Declaration
The declaration commits BRICS nations to:
Promote inclusive AI policies that balance innovation with worker protection.
Advance social dialogue to ensure fair climate transitions.
Strengthen South-South cooperation on labour governance, digital inclusion, and green job creation.
India’s contributions were commended for aligning cutting-edge technological advancement with inclusive social welfare, reflecting Hon’ble Prime Minister’s mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”. The meeting reaffirmed BRICS’ collective resolve to build a future where no worker is left behind in the face of AI-driven disruption or climate challenges.
Regional Power Conference with North Eastern States Government establishments including Government colonies, should be prioritised for pre-paid smart metering : Shri Manohar Lal
Posted On: 26 APR 2025 4:14PM by PIB Delhi
The Regional Conference of the Power Sector was held on 26th April in Gangtok in presence of Shri Prem Singh Tamang, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Sikkim and Shri Manohar Lal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs.
The meeting was also attended by Shri Ratan Lal Nath ( Minister of Power, Tripura), Shri. A T Mondal ( Minister of Power, Meghalaya), Shri. F. Rodingliana ( Minister of Power, Mizoram), Shri. Jikke Tako, MLA cum Advisor Power (Arunachal Pradesh), and Shri. Sanjeet Kharel ( MLA cum Advisor, Sikkim). The meeting saw the participation of the Union Power Secretary, Secretaries, (Power/ Energy) of participating States, CMDs of Central and State Power Utilities, and senior officers from the Ministry of Power.
Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal in his address underlined the importance of a future-ready, modern, and financially viable power sector to fuel the country’s growth on its journey towards becoming a developed nation.
He emphasized the importance of power in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat. He further remarked that the regional conference would help in identifying specific challenges and solutions in respect of power sector of the North Eastern States.
He mentioned that despite the minor gap of 0.1% in meeting current power requirements, efforts must continue to meet future demands. Since 2014, power generation has increased significantly, and various modes of generation, including thermal, hydro, atomic, and renewable energy, must be advanced. Addressing environmental concerns and moving towards non-fossil power is essential for achieving the Target of Net Zero Emissions.
He mentioned that through Government schemes like RDSS and PM-JANMAN, difficulties in the distribution sector are being addressed, and left-out households are being electrified. The Minister highlighted that the distribution sector faces challenges due to poor tariff structures, suboptimal billing and collection, and delayed payments of Government department dues and subsidies. It is essential to reduce the AT&C losses and the gap between Average Cost of Supply and Average Revenue Realised, to ensure that the distribution sector becomes viable. To achieve that, it is essential that the tariffs are cost-reflective.
He also emphasised upon the execution of works under RDSS, including Smart Metering Works, would go a long way in improving the operational losses of the utilities. He also emphasised that the Government establishments including Government colonies, should be prioritised for pre-paid smart metering.
He mentioned that States should work towards ensuring energy security and given the Hydro-Power potential, including Pumped-Storage, in the North Eastern region, the States should make efforts to effectively utilize that potential.
Secretary (Power), Government of India (GoI) highlighted the need for capital infusion to meet growing power demands and drive future reforms and modernization. It was mentioned that, given the long gestation period for power projects, it is crucial to tie up for necessary power requirement as per the resource adequacy plan for upto FY2030 at the earliest. Further, it is also imperative to make necessary arrangements for intra-state transmission capacities as per the resource adequacy plan through various available financing models viz. Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB), Regulated Tariff Mechanism (RTM), budgetary support or monetization of existing assets. The Secretary also impressed upon the planning to be done by the States for meeting summer power demand through necessary tie ups.
Hon’ble Chief Minister, Sikkim in his address welcomed the guests and highlighted the key steps taken by the State towards improving the quality and reliability of power supply across the State. He also highlighted the proposed plan of the State for further improving the power sector. He also requested for interventions from GoI on various issues concerning the State.
The participating States thanked the Hon’ble Union Minister for the importance given to the North Eastern Region and also requested for continuous support of GoI for further strengthening the power infrastructure in the region.
ecretary, Ministry of Cooperation attends signing of MoU between Ministry of Cooperation and Swiggy Instamart for onboarding of the Cooperative Dairy and other products Cooperative societies will also be able to connect with new customers by using technology
Bharat Organics and other cooperative dairy products will now be available on e-commerce and q-commerce platforms of Swiggy
Swiggy will work with the Ministry to support cooperative brands in the areas of marketing, promotion, consumer technology, and capacity building
Dedicated “Cooperative” category will be created on Swiggy’s platform, with a focus on products such as organics, dairy, millets, & handicrafts
Under the leadership of PM Modi and the able guidance of Union Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, Ministry of Cooperation has taken more than 60 initiatives for Cooperatives
Posted On: 26 APR 2025 4:07PM by PIB Delhi
Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani attended the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Cooperation and Swiggy Instamart for onboarding of the Cooperative Dairy and other products onto the online marketplace. The MoU was signed between the CEO, Swiggy Instamart Shri Amitesh Jha and the Joint Secretary of Ministry of Cooperation Shri D K Verma on Friday 25 April 2025. The signing of MoU will facilitate cooperatives to connect to new age customers through new age technologies.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the able guidance of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah Ministry of Cooperation has taken more than 60 initiatives to strengthen the cooperative sector of the country. The Ministry has recently taken many initiatives to provide access to market to the cooperative produce including the organic produce from the cooperative sector. After the MoU, the products under Bharat Organics and other cooperative dairy products will now be available on e-commerce and q-commerce platforms of Swiggy.
The MoU aims to strengthen the cooperative movement in India by leveraging Swiggy’s digital platform and outreach. The partnership will encourage the onboarding of cooperative dairy products on Swiggy’s Instamart platform and provide support for preferred access, ensuring greater visibility and reach for cooperative entities. Swiggy will work with the Ministry to support cooperative brands in the areas of marketing, promotion, consumer technology, and capacity building. A dedicated “Cooperative” category will be created on Swiggy’s platform, with a focus on products such as organics, dairy, millets, handicrafts, and others that are developed and promoted by cooperative organisations. This collaboration will facilitate cooperatives in connecting with new-age consumers through new-age technology, thereby expanding their digital footprint and enhancing their market presence.
In view of the United Nations’ declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperation, Swiggy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Cooperation, will engage in an awareness campaign to promote cooperative movements, organisations, and products across the country.
On 24 April 2025 Secretary Cooperation Dr Ashish Kumar Bhutani had inaugurated of the state-of-the-art packaging facility of National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) in Noida, Uttar Pradesh which is dedicated to the packaging of pulses and a wide range of organic food products ensuring high standards of hygiene and quality.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (May 22):
Question: (1) “Check-in Smart (HKDSE)”: to allow candidates to check examination information and perform self check-in before the examination; (2) “i-Invigilation (HKDSE)”: for invigilators to verify the candidates’ identities, confirm attendance, and count the answer scripts collected; and (3) “Centre Supervisor Control Panel”: to enable centre supervisors to monitor the examination operations, confirm the candidates’ attendance and answer scripts collected, handle irregularities and communicate with the HKEAA Command Centre. Prior to the commencement of the 2024 HKDSE, the HKEAA has developed contingency measures in the event of any issues with the PESS2. If the system is unable to function properly, examination personnel should handle the candidates’ attendance and the checking of answer scripts manually using paper forms. These paper forms were delivered to centre schools with other examination stationery in mid-March. The details of these contingency measures were outlined in the Centre Supervisor’s Handbook and explained to examination personnel during the PESS2 Briefing Session and the Centre Supervisors’ Conferences held in February and March 2024 respectively.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ7: Supply of places in aided primary schools Question:
Some members of the education sector have pointed out that the existing mechanism for operation of Primary One (P1) classes in aided primary schools has not given sufficient consideration to the demand for school places from (i) minor dependants of talents admitted to Hong Kong under various talent admission schemes such as the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), (ii) minors arriving in Hong Kong with their newly issued Permits for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao, and (iii) local students (including non-Chinese speaking students) applying for late admission (including but not limited to P1) in the middle of a school term, leading to the continuous “class reduction and school closure” by the Government under the mechanism despite the shortage of places in aided primary schools. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it will compile statistics on/estimate the total number of minor dependants of talents admitted to Hong Kong under TTPS who attended aided primary schools in the 2022-2023 school year and this school year; if so, of the details, together with a breakdown by level; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) if it will review the existing mechanism, for instance, whether it will include the number of students admitted in the middle of a school term at various levels of aided primary schools in the past school year as the basis for deciding the actual number of P1 classes to be operated by the relevant primary schools; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) as there are views pointing out that with the gradual completion of various new development areas (NDAs), the medium and long-term demand for primary school places in such NDAs will increase, how the Government plans for the supply of the relevant school places to avoid reinstating the previous arrangement of temporarily allocating more students per P1 class?
Reply:
President,
Our reply to the question raised by the Hon Chu Kwok-keung is as follows:
(1) The Education Bureau (EDB) makes reference to the latest population projections released by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) when planning the provision of public sector primary school places. The latest population projections released by C&SD in August 2023 have taken into account the impact of various talent admission schemes (including Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)) and initiatives on the future population. According to the information available, the provision of public sector Primary One (P1) places in the current school year is sufficient to meet the demand of eligible children in Hong Kong.
According to the information from the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Immigration Department, as at end December last year, nearly 21 000 unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 arrived in Hong Kong under TTPS. Talent coming to Hong Kong can choose to arrange their school-age children to study in private schools or publicly-funded schools. They are not required to obtain prior permission from Director of Immigration for receiving education in Hong Kong. On the part of primary and secondary schools, they do not need to report to the EDB upon admitting such dependants. Hence, the Government does not have statistics on the number of the relevant dependants studying in Hong Kong.
(2) The actual number of P1 classes that a school may operate depends on a number of factors, including parental choices and the number of classrooms available. Based on the number of children already admitted by a school during the Discretionary Places Admission stage and the result of computer analysis of the actual choices made by parents during the Central Allocation stage, the EDB would work out the total number of children to be allocated to each primary school. This will form the basis for deciding the number of P1 classes that a school may operate.
The current Primary One Admission (POA) mechanism has been working effectively. On the whole, the current mechanism has strived to strike a balance between the expectations of various stakeholders and has been generally accepted by the public over the years. The EDB has no plan to conduct a comprehensive review on POA mechanism. We shall continue to closely monitor the implementation of POA System.
At present, schools have to comply with the requirement of enrolment cap when admitting students in the middle of a school term. Normally, schools admit students in the middle of a school term only by using the vacancies at different class levels. In most cases, meeting such demand for school places by means of operating additional classes is not necessary. Even if there are students admitted in the middle of a school term at other class levels, it bears no relation to the demand for P1 places. Therefore, it is not appropriate to use the number of students admitted in the middle of a school term at various class levels in the previous school year as a basis for determining the actual number of P1 classes to be operated in the following school year.
(3) The provision of public sector primary school places is planned on a district basis. For new development areas, under the established mechanism, the Government would reserve sites for school development when formulating town plans and planning large-scale residential developments, having regard to the planned population intake and the needs for community services in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines. Before launching a school building project, the Government would take into account various factors including the development plan of the area concerned, the school-age population projections which are compiled and updated based on the latest information provided by C&SD and the Planning Department, the actual number of existing students and the number of school places available at different grade levels, the prevailing education policies, other factors which may affect the demand and supply of school places, etc.
The Government has already made it clear that school allocation in the future would mainly focus on reprovisioning schools. Since the number of school-age children in a district would change with population movement, the demand and supply of school places would change accordingly. If construction of new school premises is necessary to meet the demand for school places arising from large-scale new housing developments in the districts, the EDB would give priority to cross-district reprovisioning, viz. reprovisioning schools in districts with a surplus of school places to districts with a greater demand for school places, so as to rationalise the demand and supply of school places among districts.
The demand for P1 places in a school net in each school year may vary due to different unforeseen factors. In view of this, the EDB has been adopting flexible measures to cope with the transient changes in demand for school places in individual school nets. These measures include borrowing school places from other school nets, making good use of vacant classrooms to operate additional P1 classes, and temporarily allocating more students to each P1 class for the schools in the school nets concerned in individual school years when necessary. Given that the school-age population of P1 students has been declining in recent years, arrangements for temporarily allocating more students to each P1 class are not required for any school in the 2023/24 school year. Issued at HKT 15:03
Steel is the Backbone of India’s Economy, Coal and Mines Sector is the Strong Foundation on Which it Stands: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy Coal Gasification is Being Promoted as an Alternative, with a Target of 100 MT by 2030
Minister Urges Industry Partners to Actively Engage in Auction of Coking Coal Blocks
Posted On: 26 APR 2025 2:56PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, addressed the 6th edition of India Steel, a premier biennial International Exhibition-cum Conference on the steel sector, in Mumbai Today. The International Exhibition-Cum-Conference on Steel served as a significant platform for dialogue among policymakers, industry leaders, academia, researchers, and civil society on the evolving dynamics of the steel sector and its symbiotic relationship with the coal industry.
In his keynote address, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G.Kishan Reddy emphasized that steel serves as the backbone of India’s economic progress and a vital enabler of the national vision for Viksit Bharat 2047. He highlighted how India is setting new global benchmarks in infrastructure development, from the Chenab Bridge in Jammu & Kashmir, the world’s highest railway bridge, to the historic Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu—all made possible by the growing strength of the steel sector. Every milestone in the nation’s infrastructure journey, he remarked, is forged in steel—reflecting the momentum and aspirations of a Nation on the move.
He adds that India’s steel sector has grown at an impressive pace in recent years, positioning the country as the second-largest steel producer globally. Citing the words of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Minister referred to steel as India’s “Sunrise Sector” a key driver of domestic consumption, industrial expansion, and self-reliance through the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan.
Shri Reddy emphasized that if steel forms the backbone of India’s economy, the coal and mining sector represents the strong foundation on which it rests. He highlighted the importance of raw material security, especially in the context of the current session on Raw Material Strategy and the Shift in Raw Material Mix. Ensuring the availability of critical raw materials like iron ore, coking coal, limestone, and essential alloying elements such as manganese, nickel, and chromium, he noted, is both an economic necessity and a strategic imperative.
India recently achieved a landmark milestone of 1 BT of coal production and dispatch in the last financial year—a transformative step toward national energy security. Energy Statistics 2025 reveal that coal continues to account for nearly 60% of India’s total energy requirements and 70% of its electricity generation. While efforts to enhance renewable energy are underway, the Minister reaffirmed that coal will remain central to India’s energy and industrial landscape in the foreseeable future.
Focusing on coking coal, a critical input in steel manufacturing, Shri Reddy pointed out that it constitutes nearly 42% of steel production costs. India currently imports around 85% of its coking coal needs, rendering the industry vulnerable to international price volatility and supply chain disruptions. In response, the Government launched the Mission Coking Coal in 2021, aimed at reducing import dependency, targeting 140MT of domestic production, and increasing blending of domestic coal from 10% to 30% in steelmaking by 2030.
Key initiatives under this mission include the identification of new exploration areas, boosting output from existing mines, increasing coal washing capacity, and auctioning new coking coal blocks to private enterprises. The adoption of advanced technologies such as Stamp Charging has been encouraged to allow the use of high-ash domestic coal without compromising quality. The mission also aims to build 58 MT of coal washing capacity and supply 23 MT of washed coking coal by 2030.
The Minister called upon private stakeholders to actively participate in washeries, beneficiation plants, and block auctions. Pulverised Coal Injection (PCI) trials using domestic coal have already shown promise for import substitution, and greater innovation in beneficiation can further improve outcomes.
Turning to iron ore, the Minister highlighted India’s vast reserves of over 35 BT making it the fifth largest globally. With 263 MT of iron ore produced in FY 2024-25 and 50 MT exported, the country is working to ensure supply keeps pace with growing domestic demand. Currently, we have 179 working iron ore mines, and 126 blocks have been auctioned so far and 38 of them already operational and many more in pipelines. He noted, however, that over 66% of reserves are of medium and low-grade quality and require beneficiation.
To address this, the Ministry of Mines has proposed a policy currently under public consultation to promote low-grade ore beneficiation. Policy reforms, including revised royalty rates for limestone and low-grade ore, are being pursued to encourage private sector involvement.
The Minister also emphasized the importance of timely utilization of greenfield mines, as reiterated by the Prime Minister. Delays in operationalizing such assets amount to a waste of national resources. The Ministry is working closely with States and regularly reviewing progress with bidders to expedite mine development. Coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has also been enhanced to streamline clearances. Several key guidelines have been issued over the past six months, with further reforms in progress.
The coal and mining sectors, the Minister stated, are evolving rapidly to align with sustainability goals and India’s climate commitments while reducing import dependence. The government is promoting innovation and embracing a whole-of-government approach to these challenges.
A flagship initiative in this direction is the National Coal Gasification Mission, which aims to achieve 100 MT of gasification by 2030 with an investment of ₹8,500 crore. This initiative promotes the use of high-ash, non-coking domestic coal to generate synthesis gas (syngas), a cleaner alternative for DRI (Direct Reduced Iron) steelmaking. He urged the industry to invest in this transformational technology that not only reduces emissions but also enhances energy security and economic value chains.
In addition, the Minister called on the mining community to focus on recovery of critical minerals from dumps and tailings to support advanced alloys and green technologies. Testing and recovery from existing dumps must be taken up as a national priority.
The journey towards a secure, resilient, and sustainable raw material strategy is a collective one. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is progressing on a bold and ambitious path for the steel sector. The National Steel Policy envisions achieving 300 MT of production capacity by 2030-31 and 500 MT by 2047. The Ministry of Coal and the Ministry Mines are fully aligned with this vision and is taking proactive steps to ensure its realization.
Shri Reddy expressed confidence that through close collaboration between the Centre, State Governments, and industry stakeholders, India will not only meet its raw material requirements domestically but also emerge as a global leader in sustainable, self-reliant steel production. He urged all participants at the conference to contribute actively to shaping policies that will secure a greener and more resilient future for the nation’s steel ecosystem.
Earlier on the inaugural day, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the event via video conferencing, in the presence of several Union Ministers and Chief Ministers from three States, setting the tone for the importance of collaborative development in the sector.
On the second day of Steel Expo, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, participated in the Round Table Interaction on Raw Material Availability in the Steel Sector and highlighted the remarkable shift in the coal sector’s approach. He remarked that the sector is undergoing through a historic paradigm shift from being a legacy sector to becoming a key pillar of the vision Atmanirbhar Bharat. Elaborating on the Ministry’s forward-looking strategy, he pointed out that efforts are being made to raise domestic coking coal production, improve coal washing practices to enhance fuel quality, and promote the adoption of advanced coke-making and gasification technologies to enable cleaner steelmaking. He emphasized that a collaborative approach involving both public and private stakeholders is essential to foster innovation and unlock the full potential of India’s coal reserves.
Organized by the Ministry of Steel, India Steel Expo 2025 served as a premier platform for global stakeholders to deliberate on key issues pertaining to growth strategies, sustainable practices in steel production, resilience amidst evolving global economic conditions, and the pivotal role of innovation and digital transformation in enhancing industrial competitiveness. The event witnessed a constructive exchange of perspectives, exhibitions of advanced technologies, and comprehensive discussions on resource efficiency and environmental responsibility. The active participation of the Ministry of Coal further underscored the strategic integration of the coal and steel sectors, highlighting their collective commitment to fostering a sustainable, self-reliant, and forward-looking industrial landscape. The presence of prominent domestic and international participants reaffirmed India’s growing stature in shaping the future of the global coal and steel ecosystem.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
During the rain and tropical cyclone season, Hong Kong may occasionally be affected by tropical cyclones. These tropical cyclones may bring both strong winds and heavy rainfalls to the region.
If the above information is disseminated during school hours, schools should continue lessons until the end of normal school hours and ought to ensure that conditions are safe before allowing students to return home. Parents do not need to pick up their children from school immediately. For more information on the combined effect, please refer to the HKO’s online educational resources (https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/education/tropical-cyclone/weather-effects-and-impact/00674-Beware-of-Multi-Hazard-Combined-Effect.html).
As the situations in localised areas may differ from the territory as a whole, parents can exercise their discretion in deciding whether or not to send their children to school if the local weather, roads, slopes or traffic conditions are adverse. Schools will be flexible in handling the affected students who arrive late or are absent from school at parents’ discretion on the day, and such students will not be penalised.
Weather conditions can change rapidly, so it is important for students and parents to pay close attention to the latest weather conditions provided by the HKO and check if the EDB has announced class suspension before leaving for school and during their journey to ensure safety.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
IT in Education Section of EDB, Hong Kong Education City and Committee on Home-School Co-operation will co-organise ‘e-Generation Joyful Internet Surfing’ Parent Seminar (5): Know more about Myopia Management under e-Learning & Recognising Online Pitfalls. The seminar will be held on 8 June 2024 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm in webinar mode. Cantonese and English sessions will be arranged. Registration is now open (application deadline: 8 June 2024 11:00 am). A resident optometrist from the Optometry Clinic of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University will provide parents with knowledge about protection of vision and offer them methods to prevent myopia in children and reduce its progression, allowing children to maintain ocular health in their daily lives and studies. A senior inspector of police from the Cyber Security Division of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) of the Hong Kong Police Force will share with parents strategies to prevent their children from falling prey to cyber pitfalls, and help parents to enhance children’s awareness of digital safety and prevent them from becoming victims of cyber traps. Parents are cordially invited to join the seminar. For details, please refer to the website (https://www.hkedcity.net/eventcalendar/event/66389267cc9f93d2758c0156).
For enquiries, please contact HKEdCity at 2624 1000 or email to info@hkedcity.net.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ1: Mental health of primary and secondary school students Question:
Last year, the number of suspected student suicide cases reported to the Education Bureau (EDB) by primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong remained high and even hit a record high in the past five years. In addition, self-administered questionnaires were collected from 330 000 primary and secondary school students attending the Student Health Service Centres of the Department of Health in the 2022-2023 school year, with results indicating that 1.3 per cent of the students had attempted suicide in the past 12 months. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as the Government implemented a Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism in all secondary schools in Hong Kong in December last year to address the problem of student suicide, how the EDB assists schools in identifying at an early stage students with mental health needs, and of the number of referral cases received so far by the off-campus support network team and the follow-up situations; whether it has assessed the effectiveness of these two tiers under the mechanism;
(2) of the number of students with severe mental health needs who were referred by school principals under the aforesaid mechanism to receive psychiatric specialist services of the Hospital Authority in the past six months, and the follow-up situations of such cases; and
(3) given the EDB’s call for active participation from primary and secondary schools in the 4Rs Mental Health Charter to be launched in the next school year to enhance students’ mental health, of the number and percentage of schools signing up for joining the charter before the deadline last month?
Reply:
President,
Nurturing students with proper values and a positive attitude has all along been the objective of education, and “leading a healthy lifestyle” is one of the goals of school curriculum. The Education Bureau (EDB) attaches great importance to the physical and psychological well-being of students. Through cross-departmental and cross-sectoral collaboration with the Health Bureau (HHB), Department of Health (DH), Social Welfare Department (SWD), Hong Kong Police Force and other non-government organisations (NGOs), we work together to provide support for schools, students and parents. With the efforts of all parties, we can build a more robust safety net for students.
In consultation with the HHB and SWD, my consolidated reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Tik Chi-yuen is as follows:
(1) and (2) In view of the upward trend of suspected student suicide cases in 2023, the Government has implemented the Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism (the Three-Tier Mechanism) in all secondary schools in Hong Kong from December 2023 to December 2024 through the cross-departmental collaboration of the EDB, HHB and SWD so as to provide support for students with higher risk as early as possible.
Under the Three-Tier Mechanism, schools will give priority to caring for and counselling students with higher risk and will provide timely assistance and seek professional counselling or treatment services for them through the school’s interdisciplinary team in the first-tier. The EDB urges school personnel to refer to A Resource Handbook for Schools: Detecting, Supporting and Making Referral for Students with Suicidal Behaviours published by the EDB to preliminarily identify the more vulnerable students and pay attention to whether they have displayed related warning signs. If necessary, schools may arrange students with higher risk to conduct a preliminary mental health screening by using screening tools, such as Self-test Station: Depressive Mood from the DH and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) from “Shall We Talk”. The interdisciplinary team in schools, which consists of guidance masters/mistresses, guidance personnel, school social workers and school-based educational psychologists, will prioritise and launch follow-up services for students with higher risk. School personnel are recommended to refer to the Guidelines on How Schools can Help Students with Mental Health Problems published by the EDB to provide support to students as soon as possible. In order to strengthen school personnel’s early identification of and support for students with suicidal tendencies, apart from providing guidelines and a 60-hour thematic course on “gatekeeper” training for teachers every year, the EDB also organised online “gatekeeper” training courses for primary and secondary schools in December 2023. About 1 000 school personnel enrolled for the online training course. In addition, the EDB organised more than 40 additional training courses and workshops early this year, with an enhanced focus on enriching school personnel’s knowledge and skills in caring for students with mental health needs. The courses benefited about 2 200 school personnel.
In the second-tier of the mechanism, if the schools consider that they need to seek extra support subsequent to the identification and school-based intervention in the first-tier mechanism, they may seek assistance from the off-campus support network (support network) co-ordinated by the SWD. The SWD has engaged five NGOs to form the support network to provide extra support to schools. Upon receiving referrals, the support network team would contact the students concerned as soon as possible and arrange follow-up services, including emergency intervention services covering assessments, support and counselling through individual, group or online format; and would also refer the students to other services such as the Integrated Family Services, the Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness and the Integrated Children and Youth Services Centre according to their individual needs. As of March 2024, the support network team has received a total of 69 referral cases. Besides, the EDB has also collaborated with the SWD to arrange the support network team to visit about 150 secondary schools to organise mental health activities since February this year, with a view to enhancing students’ awareness of mental health, as well as strengthening their adaptability and awareness of help-seeking.
In the third-tier of the mechanism, school principals may refer students with severe mental health needs to the psychiatric specialist services of the Hospital Authority (HA). After triage and screening, the HA will accord priority to students in urgent cases. Furthermore, the HA has set up a telephone consultation hotline specifically to provide professional advice for school principals. As of March 2024, the HA’s psychiatric specialist services received a total of 168 referrals and 75 telephone enquiries from school principals through the Three-Tier Mechanism. Among the referred cases, around 3 per cent were Priority 1 (urgent) category, while about 40 per cent were Priority 2 (semi-urgent) category. The remaining cases were either Routine (stable) or were already being followed up by the HA’s psychiatric specialist services.
Based on our understanding and communication with schools, with the concerted efforts of schools and various stakeholders, school personnel’s awareness on students’ mental health has enhanced in general, being able to early identify and support students with higher risk. The operations of the second-tier and third-tier of the Mechanism are smooth, providing timely and appropriate counselling and treatment to students in need. The Government will closely monitor the operation of the Three-Tier Mechanism and engage a consultant to evaluate its effectiveness.
(3) The EDB launched the 4Rs Mental Health Charter (4Rs Charter) in April this year and invited all public sector and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools in Hong Kong to join. The 4Rs cover four important elements in fostering students’ mental health, namely Rest, Relaxation, Relationship and Resilience. We hope that the stakeholders’ awareness on mental health will be enhanced and they will work together and take actions through the promotion of 4Rs Charter. Schools participating in the 4Rs Charter are required to set practical and feasible goals and take concrete actions to promote students’ physical and psychological well-being. Schools joining the 4Rs Charter must also pledge to join the Mental Health Workplace Charter, which is jointly implemented by the DH, the Labour Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Council, as well as the Whole School Health Programme launched by the DH, so as to carry on with their school-based health promotion efforts in a more comprehensive and effective manner. The EDB has also been engaging NGOs as partner organisations of the 4Rs Charter to provide schools with additional services, activities and courses to enhance students’ health. As of May 31 2024, a total of 340 primary and secondary schools have applied to join the 4Rs Charter, accounting for 34 per cent of all public sector schools and DSS schools in Hong Kong. We will continue to encourage more schools to join the 4Rs Charter, so as to cultivate a healthy environment that is conducive to students’ growth.
The EDB will continue to work with various stakeholders to promote mental health in a more comprehensive manner, jointly establish a support network and create a caring culture, so as to promote students’ physical and psychological well-being. Issued at HKT 15:34
IOS SAGAR arrived at Port Louis Harbour, Mauritius on 26 Apr 25 on completion of Phase I of Joint EEZ surveillance with National Coast Guard (NCG) Mauritius as part of deployment to the South Western Indian Ocean. The visit marks a significant milestone in India’s commitment to regional maritime cooperation and capacity-building with friendly foreign countries.
Indian Naval Ship Sunayna (IOS SAGAR), which sailed from Karwar on 05 Apr 25, has 44 naval personnel from nine friendly foreign nations of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), including two officers and six sailors from the Republic of Mauritius.
This initiative underlines the Indian Navy’s continued efforts to enhance interoperability, mutual learning, and regional maritime security in a spirit of collective growth and cooperation.
The ship and her crew were received with warmth and enthusiasm, reflecting the close and time-tested bonds between India and Mauritius. The welcome reception was graced by Mr. Sooroojebally R, PMSM, the Commissioner of Police, and several high-ranking dignitaries of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mauritius Police Force, Indian High Commission, and NCG Mauritius. On completion of the welcome ceremony, the dignitaries were given a tour of the ship, which was followed by interaction with personnel embarked from friendly foreign nations.
During the port call, the Commanding Officer, IOS SAGAR, will call on the Commandant, National Coast Guard, the Commissioner of Police and the High Commissioner of India. Various activities are planned during the two-day port call, including the visit by the IOS SAGAR crew to the Maritime Air Squadron, Special Mobile Force Squadron and the Police Helicopter Squadron. The Commissioner of Police will also interact with the multinational crew of IOS SAGAR at Police Headquarters. The ship will be open to visitors on 27 Apr 25. Activities like trekking, Joint Yoga session and friendly sports fixtures have also been planned during the ship’s stay at Port Louis.
On departure, the ship will undertake phase II of Joint EEZ surveillance with the NCG Mauritius and, upon completion, proceed to Port Victoria, Seychelles.
INS Sunayna, a state-of-the-art Saryu class NOPV, is designed for anti-piracy operations, maritime surveillance, and HADR. The ship is equipped with medium and close-range gunnery weapons and modern electronic warfare suites, including missile defence measures. She can also carry a helicopter, which enhances her operational and surveillance capability.