DEP leads delegation to attend Belt and Road forum on environmental protection and sustainable development in Sri Lanka

Hksarg delegation attends symposium in sri lanka for water technology, climate change, and sustainable development under b&r initiative, donates software for environmental protection.

The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, today (July 3) led a delegation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) to attend the "Symposium on Water Technology, Climate Change and Sustainable Development cum The 9th China-Sri Lanka Joint Workshop on Climate Change and Marine Sustainable Development" under the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative in Sri Lanka.

The Symposium, organised by the China-Sri Lanka Joint Research and Demonstration Centre for Water Technology (JRDC), was held in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, on July 2 and 3. Its objective was to promote co-operation with Sri Lanka and other B&R countries in various areas, including combating climate change, marine disaster mitigation, resource management and sustainable development. At the same time, the HKSARG delegation conducted in-depth exchanges with the participating parties to promote high-quality green development under the B&R Initiative. The Symposium was attended by the Sri Lankan Government, a number of national research organisations and some tertiary institutions, including the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Environment of Sri Lanka, the Central Environmental Authority of Sri Lanka, the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of the CAS, as well as representatives of organisations and tertiary institutions from China, the United States, Canada, Pakistan and more.

Dr Chui delivered a keynote speech at the Symposium, introducing Hong Kong's water quality management strategies, covering pollution control at source, water quality monitoring, modelling and assessment, as well as the Triple Water System (including seawater for toilet flushing and air conditioning, as well as recycling and reuse of grey water). To facilitate scientific research and academic applications by the local government and tertiary institutions, Dr Samuel Chui, on behalf of the HKSARG, donated to the Sri Lanka side two sets of computer software, including an intelligent air quality simulation platform developed by the Environmental Protection Department's air science experts specifically for Sri Lanka, and "VISJET" - for simulation and visualisation of marine discharges developed by the University of Hong Kong research team led by Honorary Professor Joseph Lee, the current President of the Macau University of Science and Technology.

"The EPD will continue to actively engage partners in the B&R region to leverage Hong Kong's experience and advantages in environmental protection to help them in achieving green and sustainable development," DrChui said.

The HKSARG delegation, comprising representatives from the EPD, the Water Supplies Department, the Drainage Services Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, attended the Water Technology Exchange Forum yesterday (July 2) and had in-depth exchanges with officials from government agencies such as the Central Environment Authority and the Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage of Sri Lanka, sharing Hong Kong's successful experience in water resources management, application of smart-technologies and modelling in water quality management, sewage collection and treatment technology and infrastructure planning, modern aquaculture technologies and bioremediation of polluted sediments. Representatives from the EPD also shared their experience in bacteriological water quality monitoring for bathing beaches, and provided demonstration training to Sri Lankan technicians on water sample collection, testing and data analysis.

Dr Chui will visit Kandy tomorrow (July 4) to deliver an opening address at the International Symposium on "Improving Air Quality in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Monitoring, Modelling and Pollution Control" organised by the JRDC. Representatives from the EPD will also share Hong Kong's successful experience in applying innovation and technology to enhance air quality management.

Dr Chui said that the visit by the HKSARG delegation and the in-depth technical exchanges with experts, scholars and industry stakeholders from Sri Lanka manifested the concrete implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on professional staff development signed between the EPD and the Central Environment Authority of Sri Lanka last September. It is conducive to further deepening the partnership established between the two sides to jointly take forward high-quality green development under the B&R Initiative, achieving the goals of environmental protection and sustainable development.

DEP leads delegation to attend Belt and Road forum on environmental protection and sustainable development in Sri Lanka Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP leads delegation to attend Belt and Road forum on environmental protection and sustainable development in Sri Lanka Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP leads delegation to attend Belt and Road forum on environmental protection and sustainable development in Sri Lanka Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP leads delegation to attend Belt and Road forum on environmental protection and sustainable development in Sri Lanka Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP leads delegation to attend Belt and Road forum on environmental protection and sustainable development in Sri Lanka Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP leads delegation to attend Belt and Road forum on environmental protection and sustainable development in Sri Lanka Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP leads delegation to attend Belt and Road forum on environmental protection and sustainable development in Sri Lanka Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP leads delegation to attend Belt and Road forum on environmental protection and sustainable development in Sri Lanka Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Chief secretary for administration celebrates student of the year awards 2023/24 and emphasizes the importance of youth development and sustainability in hong kong.

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Student of the Year Awards 2023/24 Presentation Ceremony today (July 6):

Catherine (Chief Executive Officer of the South China Morning Post, Ms Catherine So), Gabriel (Executive Director, Charities and Community of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dr Gabriel Leung), Tammy (Editor-in-Chief of the South China Morning Post, Ms Tammy Tam), Advisory Board members, judges, parents, principals, teachers, students, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to join you all on this happy occasion – the presentation ceremony of the annual Student of the Year Awards.

Today, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of senior secondary school students throughout Hong Kong. In total, there are ten distinct award categories, covering academic performance, language, arts, sports, community service, and more.

I must first thank the Awards organiser and sponsor, the South China Morning Post and The Hong Kong Jockey Club respectively, for putting together this meaningful event year after year. Their far-reaching commitment to education – to the youth of Hong Kong – inspires us all.

New this year is the "Sustainability Advocate" category, showcasing strong commitment and leadership in advancing sustainability. Our future depends on sustainability, so I am glad to see it recognised in the Awards.

The Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to building a sustainable future for Hong Kong and co-operating with young people in doing so.

A good example is the Sustainable Development School Outreach Programme, as well as the Sustainable Development School Award Programme, launched by the Environment and Ecology Bureau this school year. The programmes offered seminars, workshops, field trips and ambassador training, where some 75 000 students from around 200 primary and secondary schools learnt the concept and importance of sustainable development.

Our Government is equally committed to nurturing a new generation of youth with an affection for the motherland and Hong Kong, with global perspectives, and with positive thinking. As you all know, the Government launched a holistic Youth Development Blueprint two years ago, with more than 160 initiatives to chart a clear pathway for different stakeholders in society to drive youth development.

And we continued to meet young people's needs, with nearly 60 new measures introduced last year. Those measures ranged from promoting patriotic education, strengthening vocational and professional training, to enhancing support for mental health and fostering youth engagement.

We will also organise the first-edition Youth Development Summit in August. Guest speakers, and youth groups, from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and overseas will gather in Hong Kong, exchanging views for mutual learning on issues of interest to young people.

I am therefore pleased to say that the theme of this year's Awards, "Empowering Collective Impact", couldn't be timelier. To provide a conducive environment for young people to grow and thrive, the collective efforts of the Government and all stakeholders are essential.

Ladies and gentlemen, your commitment to youth development is reassuring. I am talking about not just our soon-to-be announced student winners and runners-up, but also their parents who must be proud.

I am talking, too, about the principals, teachers, and many others who have – so well, so selflessly – guided our students towards success every step of the way.

My thanks, once again, to the South China Morning Post and The Hong Kong Jockey Club, as well as the expert judging panel, for their dedication to this year's Awards.

Together, collectively, we make a profound difference for our youth and for Hong Kong.

And my congratulations to all the award winners and finalists this year. I have every confidence that you will continue to build on your achievements in your education – and in your bright career ahead.

Ladies and gentlemen, I know you will all enjoy this very special day. You certainly deserve it.

On that note, I wish you all the best in the year to come. Thank you very much.

Speech by CS at Student of the Year Awards 2023/24 Presentation Ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by CS at Student of the Year Awards 2023/24 Presentation Ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases