Over 1 600 teachers commended at Teachers' Day ceremony
The following is issued on behalf of the Committee on Respect Our Teachers Campaign:
Organised by the Committee on Respect Our Teachers Campaign (CROTC), the Salute to Teachers 2024 - Teachers' Day and Commendation Certificate Presentation Ceremony was held today (September 10). The Acting Secretary for Education, Mr Sze Chun-fai, officiated at the ceremony this year and paid tribute to more than 1 600 teachers, the highest number on record, for their dedication to the teaching profession.
The Chairman of the CROTC, Mr William Lee, expressed appreciation for the dedication and professionalism of teachers. They work tirelessly every day to nurture students, cultivate their moral integrity, guide them in their pursuit of goals with dedication, and contribute to society in the future, he said.
Mr Sze expressed gratitude to all teachers for nurturing talent with dedication. He said that Hong Kong has many professional and excellent teachers. They have solid knowledge, professional teaching competencies, high moral character, and can lead by example to serve as role models for students. Their tireless and selfless dedication is worth our respect, he added.
Mr Sze said that a professional and conscientious teaching force is the key to the success for Hong Kong's high-quality education development. The Education Bureau is committed to supporting the professional development of teachers by providing systematic training for them at different stages of professional development and supporting teachers to enhance their professionalism to cope with the duties and challenges of different positions. He was confident that Hong Kong's teaching force will continue to keep abreast of the times, uphold the core mission of "cultivating values and nurturing talent", strengthen students' affection for and sense of belonging to the country, and sharpen students' skills and abilities.
Organised by the CROTC, and in its 29th year, the Teachers' Commendation Scheme aims to foster a culture of respect for teachers. Secondary schools, primary schools, kindergartens and special schools may each nominate two teachers who have shown commitment and excellence in teaching. Over 38 000 teachers have been commended.
Other officiating guests at the ceremony today included the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms Michelle Li; the Chairman of the Education Commission, Dr David Wong; and the Chairman of the Committee on Professional Development of Teachers and Principals, Professor Alvin Leung.
Over 1 600 teachers commended at Teachers' Day ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Over 1 600 teachers commended at Teachers' Day ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Illegal worker jailed
A Pakistani illegal worker, holding a recognisance form, was jailed by Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (September 16).
During a joint operation conducted by the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Powerplayer" on July 16, investigators raided a hawker pitch on Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok District. A Paskitani man, aged 30, was arrested while assembling the hawker pitch. Upon identity checking, he produced a recognisance form issued by the ImmD for inspection, which prohibits him from taking employment.Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant.
The illegal worker was charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday with taking employment while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. After trial, he was sentenced to 22 months and two weeks' imprisonment.
The ImmD spokesman warned that, 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 overstayeror a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment.
The spokesman reiterated 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 overstayeror 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 and employ 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 aninitial 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) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
Source: AI-generated images
