Security Bureau Youth Leaders Explore Jiangsu's History, Culture, and Development in Six-Day Study Tour.

Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum visits Jiangsu Province

The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung,today (July 17) led 75 members of the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum and those from its partners, Shenzhen University and youth groups of public security forces of Macao, to continue with the six-day study tour to Jiangsu Province to learn more about the country's history and culture, as well as its modern development, through understanding Jiangsu's development and future plans.

In the morning, the group visited Dr Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum in Nanjing, as well as the Nanjing Yunjin Brocade Museum to appreciate the craftsmanship of the national intangible cultural heritage. To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression as well as the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, the group visited the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in the afternoon. Led by Mr Tang, group members participated in a ceremony of worship to remember history and enhance a sense of national belonging.

In the evening, Mr Tang and members met with Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Commission of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, Mr Li Yaoguang. Mr Tang expressed gratitude to the provincial and municipal leaders for their strong support for the Leaders Forum and the large amount of work done to make arrangements for various aspects of the visit, allowing the members to experience Jiangsu's profound historical and cultural heritage, understand the country's development from ancient times to the present, and enhance their national identity.

The group arrived in Nanjing on July 15, and has visited the city during the past two days. Led by the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, the group visited notable sites such as Niushou Mountain and Jinling small town, as well as the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Nanjing Museum, immersing themselves in the cultural richness of Nanjing. The study group yesterday (July 16) also attended a thematic seminar at Nanjing University to deepen their understanding of the country's foreign policies.

Over the next three days, the study group will visit the Qilihe special police training base of the Nanjing Public Security Bureau and the Nanjing Treaty Historical Materials Exhibition Hall. They will then proceed to Wuxi to continue their study tour and meet with the city's leaders. In addition to visiting historical landmarks, the members will also tour the National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi and key enterprises in various fields to gain insights into the country's high-tech advancements and multifaceted development achievements.

Mr Tang will return to Hong Kong on July 20.

​The Security Bureau established the Leaders Forum in October 2022 to deepen participation in youth work. In the following year, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Shenzhen University, and its students were invited to participate in the activities of the Leaders Forum. Last year, the Leaders Forum expanded its network by including members of the youth groups of public security forces of Macao, further promoting youth development and cultural exchanges among Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Macao.

Source: AI-found images

Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum visits Jiangsu Province Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum visits Jiangsu Province Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

Government continues to support owners having engaged Will Power and Prestige

The Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption stated earlier today (June 10) that they had laid charges against Will Power Architects Company Limited (Will Power) and Prestige Construction & Engineering Co., Limited (Prestige), as well as seven individuals who played different roles in the major maintenance project of Wang Fuk Court. The Government understands that some buildings and housing estates have hired these two companies as consultant or contractor for their building maintenance works. As the individuals and companies involved will no longer be able to perform their duties for the works, the Government is providing appropriate support to assist these owners in following up the relevant works having regard to their circumstances.

For owners who have engaged Will Power as their consultant with the maintenance works commenced, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announced yesterday (June 9) that it would provide transitional arrangement free-of-charge for approximately 37 cases that have received URA's building rehabilitation subsidies or support services, so as to assist the owners in engaging an Independent Reviewer to promptly conduct third-party assessment, clarify the fees for the completed but not yet paid works so that the owners' corporations (OCs)/ owners can pay to the contractors, as well as prepare tender documents for the appointment of a new works consultant. As for a few cases that are not URA's original clients, the URA may also provide such transitional arrangement on a fee-paying basis. Please refer to the press release issued by the URA for details (www.ura.org.hk/en/news-centre/press-releases/20260609).

As for cases where Will Power has been engaged as consultant but yet to sign the works contract with the contractor, the owners should first terminate the contract with Will Power, and then consider engaging a new works consultant through the enhanced "Smart Tender" to be launched by the Government and the URA. In this connection, in order to facilitate owners' termination of the consultancy services of Will Power, the Development Bureau (DEVB) has, in consultation with the URA and the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS), compiled a set of reference materials to provide advice to the OCs on the termination of the consultancy services of Will Power and follow-up matters. The District Offices will contact the affected OCs and owners through their district networks to provide relevant reference materials and arrange briefings by the URA and the HKIS to these OCs and owners where necessary.

In addition, regarding cases where Prestige has been engaged as the contractor while their consultant is not Will Power, since qualified consultants have been engaged for these maintenance works, the consultants have the responsibility to assist owners in supervising their contractors' work and addressing any issues that arise during the course of the works. Hence, the owners should discuss possible solutions with their consultants, including terminating the existing works contracts, and consider seeking legal advice where necessary. The District Offices will continue to contact the affected OCs and owners through their district networks to provide appropriate support.

If buildings have received Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme notices and the compliance period has expired or will expire shortly, the Buildings Department (BD) will exercise discretion on a case-by-case basis.

Furthermore, a DEVB spokesman said that the BD had removed Prestige from the register of general building contractors in February this year. However, this will not exempt Prestige or the relevant individuals from criminal liabilities under the Buildings Ordinance. For contractors, registered inspectors and other involved persons who have violated the Ordinance, the BD will separately take prosecution actions and impose penalties having regard to the investigation results.

Source: AI-found images