Speech by CS at Diversity List 2024 Launch Event (with photos/video)

2024-06-20 14:58 Last Updated At：06-21 12:48

Chief secretary for administration, mr. chan kwok-ki, celebrates diversity list 2024 launch event with ethnic minority communities in hong kong

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Diversity List 2024 Launch Event today (June 20):

Shalini (Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Zubin Foundation, Ms Shalini Mahtani), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. It gives me great pleasure to join you today – not just to catch up with our friends of ethnic minority communities, but also to congratulate all the talented individuals on this year's Diversity List presented by The Zubin Foundation.

Hong Kong has long been a diverse, multicultural metropolis. More than 300 000 ethnic minority residents call Hong Kong home, making up more than four per cent of our population.

According to the latest census, as of 2021, 15.2 per cent of our ethnic minority population were born in Hong Kong, about two per cent more than a decade earlier. The ethnic minority population is also younger, with a median age of 37.6.

Hong Kong's high degree of internationalisation is one of our distinctive advantages. We also proudly celebrate the cultural traditions, and civic contributions, that our ethnic minority communities bring to Hong Kong. Their wide-ranging talent, energy and innovation enrich us all.

The Zubin Foundation has long been a close partner of the Government. We share a common vision of providing equal opportunities for our ethnic minorities and enabling their integration into the larger community.

The inter-departmental Steering Committee on Ethnic Minorities Affairs that I chair works to enhance support and services for ethnic minorities in wide-ranging areas – from education and employment, to community and social needs.

The Chief Executive, in his Policy Address last year, expanded Government support for our ethnic minority communities – in education, employment, integration into the community, and support services.

That includes setting up two additional support service centres – one in Kowloon Central, the other in the New Territories East – bringing the total to ten. The two new centres are expected to be open in the fourth quarter.

Eight Ethnic Minority Care Teams will begin service next month, with two others expected to be in place by year's end.

Education makes a big difference when it comes to community integration and employment. To that end, we are boosting support for non-Chinese-speaking students to help them learn Chinese.

Initiatives include providing diverse online learning materials and self-learning resources, as well as after-school Chinese-language courses, for lower primary non-Chinese-speaking students. We are also expanding the Summer Bridging Programme to cover all primary school grade levels, and enhancing school-based life-planning services.

As for employment, more than 50 civil service grades, including 18 degree or professional grades, in the Government have adjusted their Chinese-language proficiency requirements to increase job opportunities for ethnic minorities. Our government departments and disciplinary forces are gradually introducing their own job-oriented language tests. These provide additional prospects for applicants to meet job requirements.

We also offer job tasting, I am pleased to note. More than 140 students have participated in the Government's internship programme targeting non-ethnic Chinese university students since its launch in 2019.

In addition, the Racial Diversity Employment Programme of our Labour Department has been regularised, with additional measures to support ethnic minorities in learning vocational language. To date, the Programme has served more than 270 ethnic-minority job-seekers.

Meanwhile, we are working to better address the social needs of ethnic minorities. The Government's Ethnic Minority District Ambassador pilot scheme, launched in 2020, has been extended to 2026 in the welfare service units of non-governmental organisations, and our Social Welfare Department at large, to strengthen welfare support.

Last December, The Zubin Foundation was commissioned to operate a service centre, providing emotional support and counselling services for ethnic minorities. I am sure many of you have played a part in driving this important initiative.

Ladies and gentlemen, with all the continuing efforts I have just mentioned, as well as the support from each and every one of you here today, we will inspire more of our ethnic minorities to fly high and, in turn, strengthen our community and our economy.

Once again, my congratulations to the outstanding individuals on this year's Diversity List. And my thanks to the Diversity List Committee for their commitment, and to The Zubin Foundation for making it all happen.

On that note, I wish you all the best of business, health, and opportunity in the coming year. Thank you very much.

CHP reminds public on precautions against heat stroke during very hot weather

2024-06-27 06:46 Last Updated At：06:58

Stay safe in the sun: tips to prevent heat stroke and sunburn during outdoor activities

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 27) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

"The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities," a spokesman for the CHP said.

"Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system," the spokesman explained.

"Infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, outdoor/manual workers, and individuals who are overweight are more vulnerable to heat stroke.. They should pay special attention," the spokesman added.

The public should adopt the following precautions:

Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;

Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion can place additional demands on the physique;

Perform outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible;

For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation;

Do not stay inside a parked vehicle; and

Reschedule work to cooler times of the day if feasible. If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable. Start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Move to a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index is high (6 or above):

Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;

Wear long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes;

Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella;

Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion of at least sun protection factor (SPF) 15 – ideally higher – and reapply every two hours if you stay out in the sun, or after swimming, sweating or towelling off; and

While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

The public may obtain more information from the DH's Health Education Infoline (2833 0111),heat strokepage andUV radiationpage; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.