Immigration Department Launches Illustrated Book and Exhibition on Consular Protection and Travel Safety

2025-06-27 21:27 Last Updated At：21:38

Immigration Department holds launching ceremony of illustrated book on consular protection and outbound travel safety and exhibition on 20th anniversary of 1868 Assistance Hotline

The Immigration Department (ImmD) held a launching ceremony of an illustrated book on consular protection and outbound travel safety and an exhibition on the 20th anniversary of the 1868 Assistance Hotline at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O today (June 27).

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Immigration Department holds launching ceremony of illustrated book on consular protection and outbound travel safety and exhibition on 20th anniversary of 1868 Assistance Hotline Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Immigration Department holds launching ceremony of illustrated book on consular protection and outbound travel safety and exhibition on 20th anniversary of 1868 Assistance Hotline Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Guests attending the launching ceremony included the Director of Immigration, Mr Benson Kwok; Olympic diving gold medallist Ms Guo Jingjing; the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk; the Director-General of the Consular Department of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs(OCMFA) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Wei Wenxiu, representatives from the Education Bureau (EDB), as well as representatives and students from schools in Tseung Kwan O.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mr Kwok said that consular protection has always been the most solid backing for Hong Kong people travelling abroad. With the full support of the OCMFA and the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions overseas, the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit (AHU) of the ImmD is committed to providing practicable assistance to Hong Kong residents in distress outside Hong Kong. At the same time, the ImmD attaches great importance to promoting outbound travel safety. Over the years, it has collaborated with the OCMFA from time to time to organise various publicity activities to raise people's awareness of outbound travel safety, while enhancing their understanding of national consular protection and the work of the AHU.

To promote consular protection provided by the country and reach a wider audience, the ImmD has published an illustrated book for children, featuring 1868 Ambassador Ah Bong, the AHU's mascot. The book aims to help primary and kindergarten students recognise the importance of consular protection, thereby strengthening their sense of belonging to the country. It will be distributed to over 1500 primary schools and kindergartens across the territory, and its electronic version will also be uploaded to the ImmD and EDB webpages for teachers' reference and use.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the 1868 Assistance Hotline. Starting today until July 25, the ImmD will be hosting an exhibition on the ground floor of the Immigration Headquarters to introduce the public to the consular protection provided by the country and the services of the 1868 Assistance Hotline, together with relevant information on outbound travel safety. The exhibition will be open to the public free of charge from 8.45am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8.45am to 11.30am on Saturday (except public holidays).

Civil Aviation Department Completes Successful Aeronautical Search and Rescue Exercise Near Lantau Island

CAD search and rescue exercise strengthens collaboration and responsiveness

The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) successfully completed a joint short-range Aeronautical Search and Rescue exercise today (January 12) in the waters near Mong Tung Wan on the Chi Ma Wan Peninsula, Lantau Island.

The exercise involved eight government departments and one search and rescue unit, namely CAD, the Government Flying Service (GFS), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the Fire Services Department (FSD), the Marine Department (MD), the Civil Aid Service, the Auxiliary Medical Service and the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), and the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (Garrison) respectively.

Today's exercise simulated a helicopter crashing into the sea near Mong Tung Wan on Lantau Island. With the concerted efforts of helicopters and vessels dispatched by the Garrison, the GFS, the HKPF, and the FSD, all three people on board were rescued. The exercise lasted one hour, mobilising around 100 personnel from the participating units.

A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Department said, "In accordance with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization, CAD regularly organises Aeronautical Search and Rescue exercises to strengthen co-operation and co-ordination among relevant search and rescue units and promote technical exchanges. This is to ensure a rapid and effective response in the event of an emergency."

This Aeronautical Search and Rescue exercise is divided into two parts: a short-range search and rescue exercise conducted today in the waters near Mong Tung Wan on Lantau Island; and a long-range search and rescue exercise to be conducted tomorrow (January 13) in the South China Sea, approximately 50 nautical miles south of Hong Kong. CAD, together with the GFS, the MD, the Garrison, the Nanhai Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, and the Guangdong Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, will jointly deploy fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and ships to conduct the search and rescue tasks. The entire long-range exercise is expected to be completed in around three hours.

Immigration Department Launches Illustrated Book and Exhibition on Consular Protection and Travel Safety

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