EDB holds Parent-Child FUNtastic Free Verse Challenge Final cum Prize Presentation Ceremony
The Education Bureau (EDB) organised the Family Resilience Series: Parent-Child FUNtastic Free Verse Challenge Final cum Prize Presentation Ceremony under the Positive Parent Campaign today (January 24). About 300 school representatives, parents, students, and members of the public attended the event, creating a fun-filled atmosphere.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, said that the EDB launched the Positive Parent Campaign in 2020 to promote to parents and the public the proper ways and attitudes of nurturing children through organising various activities. The theme of the Positive Parent Campaign this year is "Family Resilience", with the aims to remind parents of the importance of companionship and role modelling, encourage them to listen patiently to their children's needs with acceptance and openness, guide them in analysing problems, and thereby nurture the confidence and resilience their children need to face the future.
He noted that the competition had received an enthusiastic response, with over 1 200 entries submitted across four groups: kindergarten, primary, secondary and open groups. Through crafting free verses, parents and students shared messages about facing challenges positively, building resilience, and promoting mental well-being in a light-hearted and lively manner.
Earlier, the adjudication panel selected20 outstanding entriesfrom each group for public voting of The Most Liked Award, which recorded a total ofover 10 000 votesacross all four groups. All entries shortlisted for the finals were outstanding works filled with wisdom for everyday living and insight. Following the live performance of their free verse poems by the finalists, the adjudication panel selected the winners of each group on the spot. The results and awards were announced and presented at the ceremony this afternoon.
The EDB aims to enhance the understanding of the Positive Parent Campaign among students, parents, and members of the public through activities under the Family Resilience Series and to promote the physical and mental health of parents and children, aligning with the 4Rs Mental Health Charter, to enhance students' sense of well-being and resilience, thereby enhancing the overall culture of health in schools.
For updates on the Positive Parent Campaign, please visit the Smart Parent Net website (www.parent.edu.hk/en).
EDB holds Parent-Child FUNtastic Free Verse Challenge Final cum Prize Presentation Ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
EDB holds Parent-Child FUNtastic Free Verse Challenge Final cum Prize Presentation Ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
EDB holds Parent-Child FUNtastic Free Verse Challenge Final cum Prize Presentation Ceremony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
17 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Twilight", a joint operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department codenamed "Flabbergast", and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Champion" from March 6 to yesterday (March 12).
During the anti-illegal worker operations, investigators raided multiple target locations including restaurants and warehouses.Twelve suspected illegal workers, four suspected employers and one overstayer were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised one man and 11 women, aged 27 to 62. Among them, three women were holding recognisance forms which prohibit them from taking any employment, and four women were suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card. Three men and one woman, aged 42 to 67, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.
An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."
The spokesman warned, "As stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment. As stipulated in section 20(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, the Chief Executive may make a deportation order against an immigrant, prohibiting the immigrant from being in Hong Kong at any time thereafter if the immigrant has been found guilty in Hong Kong of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years. Under the prevailing laws, it is an offence to use or possess a forged identity card or an identity card related to another person. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to 10 years' imprisonment."
The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, fax at 2824 1166, email anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.
17 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
