Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Women Empowerment Fund is open for the first round of applications this year starting from today (June 9) until July 8. The Fund subsidises projects that support women in balancing their career and family commitments, raise awareness of women’s physical and mental health, and unlock their potential.

Set up in June 2023, the Fund aims to empower women, regardless of their age, occupation or background, to realise their full potential in their respective roles, thereby promoting women’s development in Hong Kong.
 
The Fund is divided into general and thematic projects. The funding cap of each one-year and two-year general project is $400,000 and $800,000 respectively.

This year’s thematic projects include the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Exchange Programme and the Programme on Women’s Participation in Community Services. The exchange programme will enable women to broaden their horizons, deepen their understanding of national affairs, and interact with local residents, thereby promoting women’s development. Each exchange project shall be completed within one year, and the funding cap is $120,000. In addition, the community services programme aims to encourage women to make use of their own strengths to plan and launch community service projects, thereby promoting care and inclusion. Each community services project shall be completed within one year, and the funding cap is $400,000.

The Fund accepts two rounds of applications each year. The Guide to Application and the application form have been uploaded to the Fund’s website (www.wef.gov.hk). Interested eligible women’s groups and non-governmental organisations may submit an electronic or paper application.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The 2025 Election Committee (EC) provisional register and the omissions list were released today.

Relevant voters may check their registration status and particulars, including whether they have been entered into the omissions list, through “iAM Smart” or the Voter Registration website.

The provisional register and the omissions list containing entries of individuals are only displayed in a statutory manner and made available for inspection by specified individuals.

Citizens may lodge a claim or an objection in person with the Registration & Electoral Office (REO) no later than June 16.

The REO will publish the EC final register after the EC Subsector By-elections are held in September.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present the “Music and Laughs” Concert, one of the highlights of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2025. Curated by award-winning veteran producer Edward Chan, the concert will feature five popular singers or artists and accomplished musicians, delivering a delightful performance. With comedy and music as the main themes, the concert weaves together elements of drama, dance, and unique stage design, offering an unforgettable evening filled with laughter and joy.
 
     Edward Chan, who has arranged and produced songs for numerous renowned pop artists, will curate tailor-made performances for Jason Chan, Jay Fung, Cath Wong, Dee@ERROR, and FatBoy@ERROR, showcasing their distinct characteristics and strengths through diverse collaborations and presentation formats. Accompanied by the Symphonic Pops Orchestra under the baton of Fung Ka-hing and a live band of rising young musicians, the concert promises a surprising and whimsical musical spark.
 
     “Music and Laughs” Concert will be staged at 8pm on July 19 and 20 at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $388, $688, $888 and $1,088 will be available from tomorrow (June 10) at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). Only Internet, mobile app and telephone (3166 1288) bookings are available on the first ticket sale day, while outlet and self-service ticketing kiosk bookings will be available from the second ticket sale day. A maximum of 10 tickets can be purchased per transaction per person on the first ticket sale day, and a maximum of 40 tickets can be purchased per transaction per person from the second ticket sale day.
 
     For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 3755 3359 or visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en/programmes/music-laughs-concert.
 
     This year, the LCSD presents the third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival, themed “More Than Joy”. Humour has been a trendsetter in Hong Kong’s pop culture scene. The Festival features a diverse range of formats including stage performances, film screenings, thematic exhibitions, and library and outreach activities. Offering insight into the multifaceted development of Hong Kong’s pop culture along the line of “happiness”, the Festival brings audiences not only joy and laughter but also an opportunity to appreciate how pop culture can be transmitted and transformed, and how integration and breakthroughs are possible. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak affirmed today that the Government will continue to take a multi-pronged approach towards tackling illegal gambling.

 

Miss Mak was commenting ahead of a Legislative Council panel meeting tomorrow at which she will present the results of a public consultation on the formulation of a regulatory regime for betting on basketball and the steps the Government proposes to take next.

 

She told reporters that over 90% of the views gathered the consultation, conducted some months ago, support the formulation of a basketball gambling regime modelled on the current football gambling regime.

 

She also reiterated that the Government does not encourage any kind of gambling and has taken a multi-pronged approach to combating the issue of illegal gambling.

 

“The first and the most important one is law enforcement, so through law enforcement we will take serious actions against those illegal gambling organisations and people involved in illegal gambling (which) is in fact a criminal offense and can be subject to a penalty of $50,000 and also nine months in jail.

 

“The second one is public education; this is very important that we need to let Hong Kong people know the consequences of illegal gambling and we will encourage people to understand how to avoid illegal gambling and in fact gambling. We will take a series of measures and put in more efforts and resources in enhancing public education.

 

“Thirdly, for those who already have gambling problems, we will provide counselling services. Currently, we have four counselling centres carrying out these counselling services.

 

“The fourth and last one, we can see it as a last resort. When the illegal gambling problem is so serious, we need to channel the illegal gambling to a regulated gambling regime. With illegal basketball gambling, we are also taking these four approaches.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui was due to depart today on a visit to the UK and Norway, and will meet government financial officials and representatives from the business sectors in both countries. He will also speak at a number of events.

Mr Hui will return to Hong Kong on June 13. During his absence, Under Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Joseph Chan will be the Acting Secretary.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn said today the Water Supplies Department (WSD) will replace an upstream section of water pipe in response to water incidents at Queen’s Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court in Fanling, with work commencing this year.

 

Ms Linn made the announcement after visiting an upstream location in the water supply network for the two places with Director of Water Supplies Roger Wong and an expert group comprising three experts from the Drinking Water Safety Advisory Committee (DWSAC).

 

They were there to inspect a screen filter and learn about the planned work at the location.

 

The Government briefed the expert group on its assessment that a section of steel pipe with bitumen protective coating on its inner wall, at Ping Che Road, is believed to be the source of sediment in the water at Queen’s Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court. The section is about 400 metres long and 600 millimetres in diameter.

 

The expert group considered the assessment reasonable.

 

Ms Linn said the WSD will use advanced technologies, including robots, to assess the condition of the bitumen coating inside the pipe, to further ascertain the specific cause of the sediment.

 

An investigation report will be submitted to the DWSAC for review within two weeks.

 

Ms Linn added that the WSD will replace the 400m-long section of pipe and that the works will commence within this year.

 

At present, non-bitumen protective coating is used on the inner wall of over 90% of water piping in Hong Kong.

 

On the 700 kilometres of water pipes with bitumen protective coating, the WSD has installed over 1,000 screen filters at suitable locations.

 

Ms Linn said the WSD will review whether it is necessary to install extra screen filters at other locations. The WSD will also formulate a longer-term plan for the replacement of water pipes and will submit a proposal to the Development Bureau for review.

 

Under the supervision of Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong, policy bureaus and departments have commenced work to follow up on four directives put forward by the Chief Executive after a high-level steering meeting yesterday.

 

The WSD has increased the frequency of water testing at the two locations in Fanling, with water samples being collected daily from water tanks at Queen’s Hill Estate, which comprises seven buildings, a community centre and a shopping mall, and all six buildings at Shan Lai Court.

 

The results are being released daily on the WSD’s website, and posted in the lobbies of each building at Queen’s Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court.

 

To ensure residents can feel at ease when consuming water, the WSD will also continue to arrange for water tanks at the estates to provide a temporary water supply.

 

In addition, the WSD will promptly address any inquiries received via its 24-hour hotline, on 2824 5000.

 

Furthermore, the Housing Department (HD) will again thoroughly clean the water tanks in every building at Queen’s Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court within the next seven days.

 

The HD has installed a total of 22 high-efficiency filtration devices at the ground-level water inlets of all 13 buildings. These devices will be inspected twice daily to ensure proper operation. The expenses for these measures will be fully borne by the Government.

 

Residents who observe any issues with water quality can call their management office, which will follow up on the call and conduct on-site inspections.

 

The Home & Youth Affairs Bureau and the Home Affairs Department will gather District Council members, members of the North District’s “three district committees”, and the six sub-teams of the North District Care Teams, to conduct home visits today and tomorrow.

 

The teams reached over 850 households during today’s visit, with the majority of these reporting that water quality has substantially improved.

 

In addition, three street booths will be set up at key locations in Queen’s Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court to give residents updates and practical information, and to register cases for assistance.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region