Chief Executive Awards Teaching Excellence to 12 Teachers, Recognizing Innovation and Professionalism in Education

CE commends teachers for teaching excellence

The following is issued on behalf of the Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence Steering Committee:

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (July 4) officiated and presented the Award for Teaching Excellence to 12 teachers, the Award for Budding Teachers to two teachers, and the Award for Education Innovation to three teachers at the Award Presentation Ceremony of the Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence (CEATE) (2024/2025), while 12 teachers received the Certificate of Merit from the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin.

At the ceremony, the Chairman of the CEATE Steering Committee, Mr Dieter Yih, commended the awarded teachers, who not only possess solid subject knowledge and outstanding teaching capabilities but also make good use of diverse learning and teaching strategies with the integration of innovative technologies and e-learning tools to successfully create an excellent learning environment and a highly interactive learning atmosphere. They inspire students to strive for progress and effectively enhance students' self-learning capabilities. He also encouraged all the awarded teachers to uphold their professionalism, continue to pursue excellence and perfection, and nurture a new generation of youth who are committed, talented, ethical, and dedicated to the country and Hong Kong.

There were 239 nominations received from secondary schools, primary schools, kindergartens and special schools for the CEATE (2024/2025), covering themes of "Chinese Language Education Key Learning Area (KLA)", "Mathematics Education KLA", "Values Education", the Award for Budding Teachers, and the Award for Education Innovation. Assessment of nominations for the themes and awards was based on distinct assessment criteria focusing on teachers' professional performance in different domains. After assessment, five nominations (comprising 12 teachers) were presented with the Award for Teaching Excellence, along with four nominations (comprising 12 teachers) presented with the Certificate of Merit, two nominations (comprising two teachers) presented with the Award for Budding Teachers, and one nomination (comprising three teachers) presented with the Award for Education Innovation. Please visit the CEATE website (www.ate.gov.hk) for the list of the awarded teachers.

Other officiating guests at today's ceremony included the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms May Chan; the Chairman of the Education Commission, Dr David Wong; the Chairperson of the Curriculum Development Council, Professor Isabella Poon; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, Professor Paul Lam; and the Chairman of the CEATE Assessment Working Group (2024/2025), Professor Lo Ming-tung.

Sharing activities involving the CEATE-awarded teachers are being rolled out gradually to disseminate excellent teaching practices. Details will be announced on the CEATE website and the EDB Training Calendar.

The CEATE (2025/2026) will cover three themes and two awards, namely "Physical Education KLA", "STEAM Education", "Curriculum Leadership", the Award for Budding Teachers, and the Award for Education Innovation. Nominations will be accepted from July 7 to October 3. Related details will be uploaded to the CEATE website from July 7.

CE commends teachers for teaching excellence Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE commends teachers for teaching excellence Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE commends teachers for teaching excellence Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CE commends teachers for teaching excellence Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS to follow up certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula with possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 10) said that, it took initiative to meet with Nestlé Hong Kong again today, and confirmed the company's today announcement of an additional batch of powdered infant and young children formula suspected to have possibly used the raw material concerned. Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall. The CFS has collected samples of powdered infant and young children formula from the market for Bacillus cereus testing, the test results so far were satisfactory. The Environmental and Ecology Bureau is also closely monitoring the supply situation of other formula milk powder and maintaining communication with other major suppliers. It is noted that there is sufficient formula milk powder to meet the demand.

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Photo source: reference image

The spokesman said, the CFS has been actively following up on Nestlé company's voluntary and precautionary recalls of certain batches of its powdered infant and young children formula in certain areas in Europe due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. According to the latest information from Nestlé Hong Kong today, an additional batch of its powdered infant and young children formula imported into Hong Kong might have used the raw material concerned. The CFS had earlier enhanced surveillance in the market and collected a sample from the above batch for testing of Bacillus cereus. The test result of the sample was satisfactory. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall.

Product details are as follows:

Product name (Net weight): NAN PRO 1 2 HMO (800g)

Batch number: 51670742F2

Best-before date: June 16, 2027

Place of Origin: Germany

"The CFS met Nestlé Hong Kong again today, urging them to properly handle the product recall issue and respond to public enquiries, in order to safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests. In addition, the CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, six suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products that had not entered the market were marked and sealed. An additional 15 batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety, " the spokesman said.

Nestlé Hong Kong has initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels:

Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031/ 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)

Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.com

WhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ® NAN®) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth® Nutrition)

Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLink

Consumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at place of purchase, or at exclusive service counters of Nestlé Nutrition Services from January 13 (Tuesday) onwards, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the exclusive service counters are as follows:

Kowloon Services Counter

Address: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D)

Contact number: 3996 8196

Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays)

Hong Kong Services Counter

Address: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)

Contact number: 3996 8197

Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays)

The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted earlier that certain batches of Nestlé powdered infant formula were being voluntarily recalled in Europe due to possible contamination with Bacillus cereus. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS has immediately initiated follow up actions, published food incident posts to inform the public and the trade about the issue, and has been actively following up on the incident and enhanced surveillance.

Over the past three days (as of 4pm on January 9), the FEHD received a total of 18 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products, including one anonymous complaint without contact information. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on all cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health department for follow-up. At present, no food poisoning cases related to the formula have been recorded.

Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately.

"The CFS continues to closely monitor the developments of the situation, follow up and take appropriate action," the spokesman said.

The infant formula of Nestlé, Photo source: online image