SCST congratulates Lee Sze-wing, Leung Wing-yee and Ian Ho on winning gold medals at 15th National Games
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, today (November 16) extended her congratulations to Hong Kong, China cyclists Lee Sze-wing and Leung Wing-yee and swimming athlete Ian Ho on winning a gold medal in Women's Madison in the track cycling event and Men's 50m Freestyle respectively at the 15th National Games of the People's Republic of China (NG).
The cyclists Lee Sze-wing (right) and Leung Wing-yee (middle) and their coach at the medal ceremony. Photo source: Xinhua News Agency
Miss Law said, "Lee Sze-wing, Leung Wing-yee and Ian Ho gave full play to their skills in the competitions. We are thrilled that they won two gold medals for Hong Kong. After winning the gold medal in the Women's Road Cycling Individual event, Lee won the gold medal for Hong Kong again at the NG, setting a brilliant record and demonstrating extraordinary capability. Leung and Ho were the first time winning gold medals at the NG and I am so proud of their outstanding performance."
Miss Law also congratulated Oscar Louis Coggins, Robin Bent Edvin Thomas Elg, Cade Cameron Wright and Bailee Briana Brown on winning a silver medal in the Mixed Relay in the triathlon event, and Cheung Ka-long on winning a bronze medal in the Men's Foil Individual today, and wishing the Hong Kong team continued success. Miss Law especially encouraged the fencing team members, whose fighting spirit has received support from all Hong Kong citizens. We will continue to cheer them on, hoping that they can maintain their morale and confidence, and achieve even greater success in the remaining competitions, including the team event.
The Hong Kong, China Delegation has so far won fourteen medals, namely seven golds, two silvers and five bronzes, in sailing, cycling, tennis, swimming, rugby, triathlon and fencing at the 15th NG.
The swimming athlete Ian Ho, Photo source: Xinhua News Agency
Sexual Conviction Record Check Scheme expanded to cover volunteers
To further strengthen the protection of children and mentally incapacitated persons (MIPs), the Government expanded the Sexual Conviction Record Check (SCRC) Scheme to cover volunteers today (December 15). Meanwhile, three additional designated police stations were introduced to provide eligible applicants with a 24-hour fingerprint taking service.
A spokesperson for the Government said, "Volunteers include, but are not limited to, volunteer teachers and volunteer sports coaches. The SCRC Scheme remains voluntary in nature. The recruiting organisations may decide whether the SCRC is necessary after assessing the risks. Applications are to be submitted by the eligible applicants."
In addition to the existing SCRC Office at the Police Headquarters in Wan Chai and the six existing designated police stations (North Point, Yau Ma Tei, Ngau Tau Kok, Tuen Mun, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan), the Police designated three additional police stations to provide a 24-hour fingerprint-taking service, namely Tseung Kwan O, Sheung Shui and Lantau North (Tung Chung) to further facilitate the making of applications. Eligible applicants can submit applications through the online applications platform and make appointments for fingerprint taking.
The Government implemented the SCRC Scheme at the end of 2011 to enable employers to check whether persons undertaking child-related or MIPs-related work have any criminal conviction records against a specified list of sexual offences. When it was launched, the SCRC Scheme covered prospective employees, contract renewal staff and staff assigned by outsourced service providers to other organisations or enterprises, who apply for child-related or MIP-related work to organisations or enterprises.
In May 2022, the Law Reform Commission of Hong Kong (LRC) published a report on Sentencing and Related Matters in the Review of Sexual Offences, which recommended the expansion of the SCRC Scheme to all existing employees, self-employed persons and volunteers.
To enhance the protection to children and MIPs, and respond to the LRC's recommendations, the Government expanded the scope of the SCRC Scheme at the end of 2024 as phase 1 to cover prospective self-employed persons. A series of measures has been implemented at the same time to enhance the SCRC Scheme, including the launch of online applications, the introduction of a 24-hour fingerprint-taking service and the extension of the validity period to 36 months, bringing greater convenience to applicants.
"The Government will review the relevant experiences in expanding the scope of the SCRC Scheme to prospective self-employed persons and volunteers in the first two phases, and consider expanding the scope to cover all existing employees and self-employed persons at a suitable juncture, thus achieving the ultimate goal. Details will be available nearer the time," the spokesman said.
