Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     Themed “Rule of Law Education (ROLE) Stars”, the foundation course of the fourth phase of the ROLE Train-the-Leaders (TTL) Programme organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) was concluded today (June 27).

     The two-day foundation course was attended by about 120 trainees from district youth committees in the 18 districts, the Lions Clubs International District 303 Hong Kong & Macao, China, and the Rotary International District 3450. A number of trainees said the course content, supplemented by concrete and daily examples, was practical and easy to understand. The course has deepened their understanding on the principles of the rule of law, enabling them to convey correct messages on the rule of law to others through different roles in the community.

     Led by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, the foundation course of the TTL Programme was launched yesterday (June 26). Mr Lam as the speaker briefed the trainees on important topics such as the rule of law and the Hong Kong legal system. Member of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee under the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and Legislative Council Member, Professor Priscilla Leung, also briefed trainees on the legal system of the Chinese Mainland and functions of state institutions such as the NPC.

     On the second day of the TTL Programme, the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, together with renowned host and columnist Maggie Chang, equipped trainees with teaching and communication skills in disseminating messages on the rule of law, and shared their insights and practical experiences. Member of the Steering Committee on Rule of Law Education and barrister, Ms Sabrina Ho, and solicitor, Ms Roberta Chan, also took part as speakers to explain topics including Hong Kong’s court proceedings, the legal profession and alternative dispute resolution services. The trainees then participated in an interactive session comprising group discussions and exchanges.

     The certificate presentation ceremony of the TTL Programme was held after the talks, with Mr Lam presenting certificates to trainees who had completed the two-day foundation course.

     Looking ahead, the DoJ will continue to maintain close collaboration with relevant government departments and community stakeholders to promote rule of law education, enhance the public’s understanding and application of proper messages on the rule of law, and instil a law-abiding culture through diverse initiatives, hence working hand in hand with various sectors to uphold the rule of law in society.

     For more details on the TTL Programme and other relevant information, please visit the dedicated website at www.role-ttl.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The second Digital Education Week (DEW), held for seven consecutive days, has concluded today (June 27). The two highlight events of DEW, namely the International Summit on the Use of AI in Language Learning and Teaching 2026 and the Learning & Teaching Expo 2026 (LTE 2026), were held under the themes “AI in Language Education: From Ideas to Implementation to Impact” and “Reimagining Education: Human-Centric, Future-Ready” respectively, demonstrating Hong Kong’s pivotal direction in holistically advancing the integration of humanities education with innovative technology to actively meet the needs of national and societal talent nurturing in the age of AI.

The first highlight event, the Summit, was co-organised by the Education Bureau (EDB), the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The event was held from June 21 to 24, attracting over 5 000 attendances. The Summit sought to provide a practical platform for teachers, researchers, and other members of the education sector to learn from one another, and share insights regarding the use of AI in language education. During the first two days of the Summit, a total of six keynote speeches were delivered by leading scholars from around the world, alongside an invited expert panel discussion, and 93 paper presentations and teaching demonstrations, fostering professional exchanges. Scholars and experts from different regions shared their perspectives, integrating theoretical research into teaching practice, and explored in depth how AI can be effectively applied in diverse language education contexts.

In the following two days of the Summit, a total of 22 workshops were held, receiving an enthusiastic response. Participants engaged in hands-on experiences with various AI-powered teaching tools and explored different strategies and possibilities for integrating AI into language education to further promote the incorporation of innovative technologies into classroom practice. 

Another highlight event of DEW, the LTE 2026, was fully supported by the EDB, presented by the Hong Kong Education City and organised by the Smart City Consortium. The event, held from June 25 to 27, attracted a total attendance of over 23 000. The EDB especially arranged three keynote sessions on the newly released Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools. The sessions highlighted the guiding direction and implementation strategies for promoting digital transformation of education in primary and secondary schools, which aims to enhance students’ digital literacy and equip the younger generation to meet the opportunities and transitions of the digital era.

The LTE 2026 featured more than 600 local and overseas booths, and over 270 programme sessions with the introduction of new sessions such as the “Parents’ Summit”. Speakers from around the world also attended the event to share future classroom solutions to further advance Hong Kong’s development in the field of digital education. 

This year’s DEW brought together experts, scholars, policy researchers, and representatives from education and technology sectors from Hong Kong, the Mainland and around the world, along with teachers, students and parents, to explore new trends in educational technology development, particularly focusing on how AI can drive innovation in learning and teaching, and build a future-ready digital education ecosystem collaboratively. 

For more information on DEW, please visit the Digital Education Resource Platform (www.digitaleducation.hk/en/). 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Lightshadow”, a joint operation with the Labour Department codenamed “Rainbow” and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Champion” from June 18 to yesterday (June 25). During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD officers raided multiple target locations including restaurants, flats under renovation and warehouses. Twenty-one suspected illegal workers, eight suspected employers and seven overstayers were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised 12 men and nine women, aged 25 to 54. Among them, four men were holding recognisance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment. Six men and two women, aged 30 to 77, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. The arrested overstayers were seven women, aged 33 to 58. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
 
     An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.” 
 
     The spokesman warned, “As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years.”
 
     The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
 
     According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee’s identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker’s valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
 
     Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
 
     For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the “Online Reporting of Immigration Offences” form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

At the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area, the Civil Engineering & Development Department (CEDD) is breathing new life into facilities along the Tin Shui Wai river channel.

Transformed riverside

For the first phase of this transformation, the project team zeroed in on a stretch of the river between Tin Shui Estate and Tin Wah Estate.

CEDD Architect Chan Man-kong said they centred the design on the junction of the Tin Shui Wai river and Ha Tsuen channel, creating art paintings on the walls and pavement.

“This spot is precisely the starting point of the eastern side of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area and is adjacent to Tin Shui Wai,” noted Mr Chan.

“On the left, is the vibrant town centre of the new development area and the happy smiles of the residents, while on the right is the lively traditional dragon dance celebration.

“Linking these two scenes together is the Tin Sum riverside and floodable open space in the middle. We have also specially incorporated the scenery of Lau Fau Shan and Deep Bay, as well as migratory birds, horseshoe crabs and fiddler crabs.”

Mr Chan added that the mural represents the future of the new development area.

Facility face-lifts

Along the riverbank, two pergolas have been completely reimagined, each redesigned with its own distinct charm and character.

“The pavilion walls are decorated with the logo, colours and patterns of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area,” explained Mr Chan. “And the design of another pavilion takes the common egrets found along the Tin Shui Wai river as the theme, using egret silhouettes with shades of blue to represent the sky and river water, creating an effect with simple patterns and lively colours.”

Turning this vision into reality relied on seamless teamwork and a shared goal across various departments.

In addition to the pavilion beautification, the CEDD was also responsible for feature art paintings and the provision of fitness bikes.

CEDD Engineer Bonnie Kwan noted that the Leisure & Cultural Services Department carried out the riverside landscaping, the Highways Department relayed the paving blocks and beautified the railings, while the Drainage Services Department shortened the fencing, all in an effort to make the overall environment more layered and more welcoming.

Embracing enhancements

Following the completion of the beautification works, the upgraded waterfront has been warmly received. Residents have said the riverside space is now more comfortable and vibrant, encouraging more people to stroll along the promenade and enjoy leisurely activities by the water.

CEDD Chief Engineer Chung Lok-chin said preparations are now underway for the next phase of work, with plans to select outstanding design proposals through a design competition to further enhance the riverside space through small-scale works.

“In the long term, under the planning of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area, the western bank of the Tin Shui Wai river channel will be transformed into a 2-km-long riverside promenade,” explained Mr Chung.

“Bridges will be added to improve accessibility between both riversides, and more trees and flowers will be planted to beautify the environment for public use.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The foundation course of the fourth-phase ROLE Train-the-Leaders Programme, themed “Rule of Law Education Stars”, concluded today.

The two-day course was organised by the Department of Justice and attended by about 120 trainees.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam spoke at the event, briefing participants on key topics including the core concepts of the rule of law and the structure of the Hong Kong legal system.

Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan also shared his practical experiences, equipping trainees with effective communication and teaching skills to better disseminate rule of law messages.

Participants described the course content as practical and accessible. They noted that the training deepened their understanding of rule of law principles, enabling them to effectively convey accurate messages within their respective community roles.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan today concluded his visit to Xi’an by attending The First Western Commercial Space Conference, meeting Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Shaanxi Provincial Committee Xu Xinrong.

Speaking at the conference, Mr Chan highlighted Xi’an’s strong scientific research capabilities, robust industrial chain and deep pool of technological talent in the aerospace industry.

He pointed out that for the commercial space industry to thrive, it must successfully secure financing, expand market reach and maintain steady development.

Mr Chan discussed Hong Kong’s unique positioning under the “one country two systems” principle, noting that the city can act as an international interface for the western region’s aerospace industry across capital, research and market perspectives.

In terms of capital, the Financial Secretary said Hong Kong can help technology enterprises with raising funds, valuation, pricing and cross-boundary mergers and acquisitions using internationally recognised rules.

For scientific research, the city’s universities can partner with Xi’an institutions on key technologies, drive the commercialisation of research outcomes and leverage global networks to attract top-tier talent.

Regarding market development, Hong Kong can help Mainland enterprises expand overseas by facilitating standards conversion and product validation.

Mr Chan stressed that Hong Kong will leverage its openness, internationalisation and financial strengths to empower the western region’s aerospace industry and support national aerospace development.

The finance chief departed for Hong Kong this afternoon.