Travel broadens students’ horizons

Participation in Mainland study tours among special schools has skyrocketed this academic year, with the number of participating institutions rising nearly 70%. Data revealed that 44 special schools joined the programme for the 2025-26 academic year, up from 26 in the previous year.

Enriching experience: Hong Kong Red Cross John F. Kennedy Centre student Sharon Lau says joining the one-day tour helped her understand how Shenzhen integrates technological advancement with its historical roots. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

The tours are a major component of the Citizenship & Social Development curriculum, a core subject for senior secondary students. To accommodate special school students, the Education Bureau offers seven itineraries for schools to consider, with specific arrangements adjustable as needed.

Breaking barriers

Sharon Lau and Gary Shum, Secondary 5 students at the Hong Kong Red Cross John F. Kennedy Centre, joined a one-day excursion to Shenzhen last academic year. Alongside five classmates, they explored the Nanshan Museum and Nantou Ancient City.

For Sharon, the trip was a revelation in the latest development of Shenzhen. “The trip helped me understand how Shenzhen integrates technological advancement with its historical roots.”

She added that the journey brought her studies to life: “As the saying goes, 'It is better to travel 10,000 miles than to read 10,000 books.' Experiencing it firsthand is far more engaging than reading textbooks.”

Erasing preconceptions: Hong Kong Red Cross John F. Kennedy Centre student Gary Shum says he discovered Shenzhen is convenient for wheelchair users and a city that combines cultural heritage with modern creativity. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

Her classmate Gary admitted he was initially skeptical. “I thought Shenzhen was just a commercial city of skyscrapers that lacked barrier-free facilities,” he said. “I discovered it is actually quite convenient for wheelchair users and boasts a rich cultural heritage that blends modern creativity with the past.”

Meticulous planning

The school has maintained its momentum this year with a trip to Zhuhai focused on aviation technology. Mak Chi-wai, the subject’s Panel Head, believes the one-day format is ideal for maintaining student focus while addressing physical needs.

“Preparation is very important,” Mr Mak explained. “We hold internal meetings across departments to discuss every student’s physical and emotional requirements. We also work in close co-ordination with the Education Bureau, parents and travel agencies. And we need to draft school-based worksheets tailored to our pupils.”

Close co-ordination: Hong Kong Red Cross John F. Kennedy Centre Citizenship & Social Development Subject Panel Head Mak Chi-wai explains that preparation is of paramount importance when organising the tours to meet each student’s physical and emotional requirements. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

No boundaries

Despite the logistical hurdles of transporting students with complex needs, the school’s principal Levian Lee remains steadfast in the programme's value.

“We truly believe that learning has no boundaries,” Miss Lee emphasised. “Every student deserves a meaningful learning experience, which is why we go the extra mile. Through co-ordination with the Education Bureau and the Mainland departments, we ensure a smooth journey that offers firsthand insights into our country’s development.”

“We want our students to realise that the path they can walk is much wider than they imagine,” she added.

No limits: Hong Kong Red Cross John F. Kennedy Centre Principal Levian Lee believes that learning knows no boundaries and that every student deserves a meaningful learning experience. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorms

As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

The Labour Department (LD), Photo source: reference image

A spokesman for the LD said today (May 3) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (such as electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by a rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent an electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm that it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

Photo by Bastille Post