Category: MIL-OSI

LCQ8: Implementation of life planning education 
Question:
 
     Starting from the 2014/15 school year, the Education Bureau (EDB) has implemented life planning education (LPE) in secondary schools and provided each public sector school (including special school) and Direct Subsidy Scheme secondary school operating classes at senior secondary levels with the Career and Life Planning Grant (CLPG). Starting from the 2016/17 school year, schools may turn CLPG into regular teaching posts. In 2019, EDB further announced that public sector secondary schools must turn CLPG into regular teaching posts by the 2022/23 school year to provide more stable teacher manpower for enhancing the development of LPE and guidance services. However, there are views that the Government’s expenditure on LPE is not commensurate with its effectiveness. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the number of schools which have turned CLPG into regular teaching posts since the 2022/23 school year, and the annual expenditure involved in creating such regular teaching posts;
 
(2) of the staffing establishment, specific functions and performance indicators of the EDB’s Life Planning Education Section; and
 
(3) whether the EDB will consider establishing a regular evaluation mechanism to periodically assess the effectiveness of schools in implementing LPE and propose recommendations for improvement; if so, of the details?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Education Bureau (EDB) has been attaching great importance to the implementation of life planning education (LPE), allocating additional resources and providing support to strengthen schools’ implementation of LPE on multiple fronts since the 2014/15 school year, which includes providing additional resources/manpower, promoting business-school partnership, providing professional support, enhancing professional training, etc. Through a wide range of LPE and career exploration activities, schools help students enhance self-understanding, identify their interests, abilities and orientations at an earlier stage, set goals and make better planning and preparation for further studies and career pursuits by equipping them with relevant information on the multiple pathways and workplace.
 
     Regarding the question asked by Dr the Hon Junius Ho, our reply is as follows:
 
(1) Since the 2014/15 school year, the EDB has been providing each public sector school and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) school operating classes at senior secondary levels with a recurrent provision, the Career and Life Planning Grant (CLPG), to enhance LPE elements for students. To provide more stable teacher manpower to enhance LPE development and related guidance service, public sector schools are given the option to convert the CLPG into regular teaching posts starting from the 2016/17 school year. From the 2019/20 school year onwards, the regular teaching posts converted from the CLPG have been counted towards the calculation of promotion post entitlement in order to strengthen the middle management manpower for taking forward LPE. Since the 2022/23 school year, all public sector schools have fully converted the CLPG into regular teaching posts for empowering schools and the responsible teaching teams to implement LPE. As the relevant expenditure has been turned into regular teaching posts in public sector schools and subsumed under the EDB’s overall expenditure, the EDB does not have a breakdown of relevant figures.
 
(2) The LPE Section is under the School Development Division of the School Development and Administration Branch of the EDB, and is tasked to support secondary schools in providing LPE and career guidance services for their students. The Section is headed by a Senior Education Officer (Administration), under whom there are two teams separately led by a Senior Inspector responsible for coordinating work related to the support for schools’ LPE development and teacher training, and an Education Officer (Administration) responsible for coordinating the Business-School Partnership Programme (BSPP) and collaboration with other organisations.
 
     To enhance the support to schools for the delivery of LPE in a more comprehensive and systematic approach, the LPE Section conducts school visits to render professional advice to schools. In addition, to enhance the capacities of the teachers to support students in life planning, the LPE Section organises structured training, thematic seminars and sharing sessions for secondary school teachers every school year, with a view to strengthening professional training for teachers and disseminating the good practices of schools. The one-stop Life Planning Information Website is also launched to provide students, teachers and parents with comprehensive information on life planning and multiple pathways. Through the implementation of the BSPP, the LPE Section, in collaboration with different business corporations, government departments and community organisations, has been providing students with diversified career exploration activities, with a view to equipping them with knowledge and information about different industries so that they can better understand the workplace, develop positive work attitudes and get well prepared for further studies or career pursuits. As for strengthening public education, the LPE Section has rolled out publicity activities since 2016 to promote the culture of supporting young people in life planning. They include broadcasting feature interviews with outstanding persons of different industries on various promotional platforms to get the message of “every trade has its masters” across, producing newspaper supplements to showcase good practices of schools and BSPP partners in implementing life planning and holding activities to help parents understand the importance of life planning. The LPE Section will continue providing support to schools for the implementation of LPE, with a view to helping students identify their interests, abilities and orientations at an earlier stage, set goals and make better planning and preparation for further studies and career pursuits.
 
(3) Since the 2014/15 school year, the LPE Section of the EDB has conducted four rounds of school visits, visiting all of the nearly 500 public sector and DSS schools operating classes at senior secondary levels in each round, for professional exchanges, examining and discussing the school-based work on LPE, and further studies and career guidance of the schools, as well as rendering professional advice to schools. Based on the observations from the four rounds of school visits, most schools attached great importance to LPE, developed the school-based LPE and adopted various modes in delivering related activities having regard to their own circumstances and students’ needs. They also gradually enhanced cross-team collaboration to provide students with support related to life planning. A wide range of LPE activities were organised by schools, and a number of schools offered school-based life planning lessons to help students identify their career aspirations, develop a positive work attitude, set goals, etc. Besides, according to the information gathered during the school visits, many schools have progressively implemented the cyclic self-evaluation mechanism of “Planning – Implementation – Evaluation”, and would adjust their work plans based on the evaluation findings in a timely manner, facilitating schools’ self-improvement. The LPE Section will continue to conduct school visits to understand schools’ progress in the implementation of LPE, as well as to render professional advice to schools and gather good practices from different schools for dissemination to other schools for reference.
 
     In addition, to ensure that the activities under the BSPP of  the EDB achieve the expected outcomes and objectives, officers from the LPE Section regularly attend various types of activities to observe the activity processes, arrangements and students’ responses. Questionnaires and reflections from participating students are collected to understand their views and the benefits they gained. The relevant feedback is then shared with BSPP partners for collaborative review, ensuring that the activities achieve the expected outcomes and align with the goals of promoting LPE. Moreover, the LPE Section regularly invites BSPP partners to attend meetings to evaluate the content and effectiveness of the activities, as well as to share successful experience in organising activities.
Issued at HKT 14:48

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Hong Kong Customs detects smuggling case involving river trade vessel with goods worth about $71 million seized (with photo)      
     Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, the river trade vessel departing from Hong Kong for Macao was selected for inspection on that day. Upon examination, Customs officers aboard the vessel found a large batch of suspected smuggled goods, including suspected pharmaceutical products, cosmetic injection material, cigars, mobile phones and electronic parts.
      
     Investigations are ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
      
     Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities on all fronts. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on relevant crimes.
      
     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 18:05

New District Officer for Sha Tin District assumes office (with photo) 
     Since joining the Administrative Service in 2006, Ms Lee has served in various bureaux and departments, including the Chief Secretary for Administration’s Office, the then Home Affairs Bureau, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Development Bureau, the then Food and Health Bureau and the Health Bureau.
 
     She was the Commissioner for Harbourfront at the Development Bureau before taking up the new post of District Officer (Sha Tin).
Issued at HKT 15:00

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LCQ5: Energy supply in Hong Kong 
Question:
 
     It is reported that ongoing tensions in the Middle East have led to a rise in international oil prices, bringing heavy operational pressure on Hong Kong’s sea, land and air transport, passenger services and logistics trades. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the current respective sources of supply for liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas in Hong Kong; if so, of the details, and whether the supplies are stable;
 
(2) whether there are measures in place in Hong Kong to safeguard its energy supply; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(3) of the measures in place to assist the local sea, land and air transport, passenger services and logistics trades in coping with the impact of the recent rise in international oil prices and to ensure an adequate long-term supply of critical commodities such as energy?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Stable energy supply is critical to Hong Kong’s economic and social operations. Public transportation, air passenger and cargo services, and electricity supply, etc, are directly related to energy supply. The situation in the Middle East is affecting global oil supply, with the impact on Asia being particularly pronounced. The top priority of the Government is to ensure the stability of Hong Kong’s energy supply.
      
     Hong Kong has no local energy resources. Apart from a small amount of renewable energy, Hong Kong must rely on imported fuels. These include direct import (such as oil products), and those processed in Hong Kong after importation (such as electricity and town gas). Currently, around 80 per cent of Hong Kong’s oil products came from the Chinese Mainland. Hong Kong has weathered several global energy crises in the past, including those triggered by the Gulf War and the Ukrainian conflict, which remain fresh in the minds of many. With the advantage of enjoying strong support from the motherland, Hong Kong has been able to maintain a stable energy supply amid the emergence of energy shortages in many regions and cities around the world.
      
     In view of the latest situation in the Middle East, the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) met with local major auto-fuel suppliers last week to reiterate the importance of energy for Hong Kong’s economic and social operations. It has urged the suppliers to ensure a stable supply of local auto-fuel. All the suppliers have indicated that the supply of local auto-fuel is normal, and that they will continue to strive to maintain a stable supply.
      
     The EEB also confirmed with the two power companies and The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (the Towngas Company) that fuel supplies for electricity and town gas production remain normal. Given the challenges posed to global energy supplies by the current tensions in the Middle East, which are affecting every corner of the world and every sector of the economy, we must all remain vigilant and work together to address this situation. The Government will continue to closely monitor the geopolitical developments and the local fuel supply situation to ensure the stability of Hong Kong’s energy supply.
      
     In response to the question raised by the Hon Lee Chun-keung, in consultation with the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB), our reply is as follows:
 
(1) and (2) As mentioned above, Hong Kong mainly relies on imported fuel, with around 80 per cent of the oil products coming from the Chinese Mainland. Leveraging the advantage of having the motherland’s staunch support, the Government has confirmed with all major energy companies that Hong Kong’s energy supply remains stable at present.
 
     Natural gas is primarily used for electricity generation and town gas production in Hong Kong. There are six subsea natural gas pipelines in Hong Kong, including those connecting the Chinese Mainland to the two power companies and the Towngas Company, as well as those connecting the Hong Kong Offshore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminal (the Terminal) to the power stations of the two power companies. The floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) vessel berthed at the Terminal is currently the largest facility of its kind in the world.
      
     Currently, the natural gas supply in Hong Kong remains stable. In the event that the supply of LNG by sea is disrupted by the situation in the Middle East, the two power companies have already formulated contingency plans to adjust their fuel mix (including pipeline natural gas, nuclear power, and coal) as necessary to maintain stable electricity generation. As for town gas supply, the Towngas Company also indicated that if the supply of natural gas is disrupted, they can maintain supply by adjusting the fuel blend ratio to use more naphtha for town gas production.
      
     In terms of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the majority of Hong Kong’s LPG is used as transport fuel, mainly for taxis and minibuses. Currently, LPG supplies are mainly sourced from neighbouring cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including Zhuhai, Dongguan and Shenzhen, with suppliers arranging for LPG tankers to transport the fuel from the Chinese Mainland to Hong Kong. The LPG suppliers have also indicated that supplies remain normal at present.
 
(3)  The Government is very concerned about the impact of rising international oil prices on Hong Kong’s transport and freight industries. In respect of public transport services, the Transport Department (TD) has been maintaining close communication with different public transport operators in view of the recent hike of international oil prices, including franchised buses, public light buses, taxis and ferries, to understand how their operations are impacted. Given the uncertainty of the future trend of oil prices, the TLB and the TD will continue to closely monitor the development to ensure that the operation of public transport services remain normal. The Government will also maintain close contact with the land freight transport sector.
 
     On the aviation side, several local and non-local airlines have at different times adjusted airfares or raised their fuel surcharges in response to the elevated aviation fuel prices. The TLB is paying close attention to the development, and has already met with local airlines to express its concerns regarding the magnitude of cargo fuel surcharge increases, and emphasise the importance of maintaining the competitiveness of the Hong Kong International Airport. We have also requested the airlines to strengthen communication with the freight industries, and arranged relevant stakeholders to meet to allow airlines to explain to the trade the basis and rationale for setting cargo fuel surcharge levels, with a view to enhancing transparency. The Government will closely monitor airlines’ adjustments to cargo fuel surcharges to ensure that the process is reasonable and transparent.
      
     On the maritime front, sustained elevation of global oil prices will put pressure on the operating costs of the maritime industry. Hong Kong Port (HKP), as a free port, has long enjoyed advantages including swift customs clearance, high efficiency, and strong international connectivity. With congestion at other ports, HKP can play an active role in cargo diversion. The Government will maintain communication with the industry to ensure the smooth operation of HKP and maintain its international competitiveness.
      
     The energy supply in Hong Kong remains to be stable. The Government will remain vigilant and closely monitor the geopolitical developments, international energy price trends and the local fuel supply situation to ensure the stability of Hong Kong’s energy supply. Around 80 per cent of oil products in Hong Kong came from the Chinese Mainland, the EEB will continue to liaise with the relevant Chinese Mainland authorities to support the stable supply of major fuel products to Hong Kong.
Issued at HKT 15:02

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HKMA 2026 Pay Review      
     The Financial Secretary has approved that the Fixed Pay of the HKMA staff will be adjusted upward by a general increase of 2.65 per cent, where an allocation of 1.35 per cent of Fixed Pay is set aside for awarding good performers. Variable Pay equivalent to 20.04 per cent of Total Pay will also be paid to staff on the basis of their performance in 2025. Variable Pay is a one-off payment to staff who have attained or exceeded the required level of performance.
      
     The Financial Secretary determines the pay adjustment of HKMA staff each year having regard to the recommendations made to him by the GSC through EFAC, GSC’s assessment of the performance of the HKMA in the preceding year, the pay-survey findings of the financial sector conducted by independent human resources consultants and any other relevant factors.
Issued at HKT 18:32

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