Countdown to Hong Kong's 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and 9th Special Olympics Begins!

2024-12-08 13:53 Last Updated At：17:28

One-year countdown to 12th NGD and 9th NSOG and Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2024 (with photos/video)

The 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) will be held on December 8 next year. To mark the one-year countdown to the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, as well as to kick off the annual Hong Kong Paralympic Day, the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) (NGCO) and the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee (HKPC) held a ceremony for Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2024 and the one-year countdown campaign of the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG (Hong Kong) at the Hong Kong Sports Institute today (December 8).

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One-year countdown to 12th NGD and 9th NSOG and Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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One-year countdown to 12th NGD and 9th NSOG and Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2024 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, stated that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been taking forward the preparatory work for the 15th National Games (NG), the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, with the objectives of promoting sports co-operation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and fostering the spirit of Chinese sports. She noted that Hong Kong athletes will compete alongside national elites on the stage of the Greater Bay Area, providing Hong Kong people with the opportunity to watch the competitions in person. She expressed confidence that this will not only promote and enhance the development of sports in Hong Kong but also ignite public passion for sports and cultivate a "Sport for All" culture.

Other officiating guests at the ceremony included the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum; the Head of the NGCO, Mr Yeung Tak-keung; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; Deputy Director-General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Sun Zhaomin; the Honorary President of the HKPC, Dr York Chow; the President of the HKPC, Mrs Jenny Fung; and the Chairperson of the Hong Kong Paralympic Day Organizing Committee 2024, Mr Keith Lui.

Hong Kong Paralympic Day is an annual event for the disability sports community. Through sports demonstrations and sharing sessions by athletes, the event aims to raise public awareness, support, and recognition for disability sports; encourage people with disabilities to participate in sports activities and experience the joy of sports; and promote the spirit of disability inclusion. As this year's Hong Kong Paralympic Day coincides with the one-year countdown to the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, elements from the games have been incorporated into this year's celebration, which includes an exhibition featuring information about the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG. Members of the public can also experience sports events from the games that will be staged in Hong Kong, including boccia, table tennis, wheelchair fencing, and para dance sport.

The NGCO will continue to organise various promotional activities for the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG in the community and schools, including roving exhibitions and sports games and programmes, to raise public awareness of the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG while encouraging members of the public to support and participate in this national mega sports event. Members of the public can visit the thematic website (www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk), Facebook page (www.facebook.com/2025nationalgames.hk) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/2025nationalgames.hk) for the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG (Hong Kong) for updates on the games and information of relevant activities.

The 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG will be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao from December 8 to 15, 2025. Hong Kong will organise four competition events, namely, NGD events boccia, wheelchair fencing, para table tennis (TT11), and NSOG event table tennis, as well as one mass participation event, para dance sport.

Hong Kong Customs Celebrates Youth Leaders and Launches YES Buddy AI Robot at 2024 Training Camp Ceremony.

2024-12-27 21:18 Last Updated At：21:28

Hong Kong Customs holds graduation parade for Customs Youth Leader Corps Winter Training Camp 2024 and "YES Buddy" AI Robot Launching Ceremony

Hong Kong Customs held a graduation parade for the Customs Youth Leader Corps Winter Training Camp 2024 and "YES Buddy" AI Robot Launching Ceremony at the Hong Kong Customs College today (December 27).

During the graduation parade, 60 members of the Customs Youth Leader Corps (CYLC) and 22 in-service Customs personnel who were former CYLC members demonstrated the exceptional discipline and demeanour of the disciplined services through their uniform Chinese-style foot drill. The flag-raising ceremony was conducted by the Foot Drill and Flag Party of the CYLC, the first youth group under the Security Bureau to perform the Chinese-style rifle foot drill, fully reflecting the steadfast commitment of Customs in nurturing patriotism among young people.

The Executive Director of the Executive Committee of Customs YES, Dr Eugene Chan, in his speech said that Customs YES continuously promotes youth development by organising activities such as national education, community services, Customs work experience, career orientation and discipline trainings with an aim to nurture youth leaders with a sense of responsibility, national identity and a global horizon. He also encouraged members to maintain the excellent qualities of the CYLC, namely courage, perseverance and integrity, in the future to contribute to the country and Hong Kong.

During the four-day training camp, participants underwent training on the Chinese-style foot drill, physical fitness and leadership to enhance their team spirit and leadership capabilities. They also visited the Customs Airport Command and the headquarters of the Government Flying Service, and gained a deeper understanding on their work through briefings and a helicopter flight experience.

Following the graduation parade, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, Dr Chan and the Director of the Executive Committee of Customs YES, Dr Mark Mak, officiated at the "YES Buddy" AI Robot Launching Ceremony. "YES Buddy" is the first 5G AI publicity robot of Customs. Led by Dr Mak and his team, members from the Innovation & Nurture: Customs YES Robotics Workshop took part in the design of the robot's appearance, functions and programming, embodying the creativity and practice of this innovation and technology learning.

Integrated with artificial intelligence, natural language processing and machine learning technologies, "YES Buddy" can give instant responses to public inquiries about customs work and Customs YES, as well as providing information on membership application matters and activities. Its database also covers knowledge on national security. In the future, "YES Buddy" will serve as a Customs YES ambassador to visit schools and youth gathering places to promote customs work and Customs YES activities, as well as encourage member recruitment and national security education.

Hong Kong Customs will continue to promote Customs YES with a view to fostering the all-round development of young people and nurturing a new generation of youth with an affection for the country and Hong Kong, with global perspectives and positive thinking.

Countdown to Hong Kong's 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and 9th Special Olympics Begins!

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