Acceptance arrangements for results of HKDSE Category C Other Languages subjects
The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (June 23) that results attaining specific language proficiency levels in Urdu and Hindi, which are newly included in Category C Other Languages (OL) subjects of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination, will be accepted as meeting the entry requirements of relevant civil service grades.
New arrangements for Category C OL subjects (French, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish) have been implemented by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) starting from the 2025 HKDSE. Candidates are required to take the stipulated language examinations administered by the respective official organisations in Hong Kong. Their results obtained at the stipulated examination grades/language proficiency levels or above will be included in their HKDSE Examination Category C results and reported on their HKDSE certificates. Starting from the 2026 HKDSE, Urdu is included in Category C OL subjects. Starting from the 2028 HKDSE, Hindi will be included as the seventh OL subject. The related arrangements are the same as those for the existing OL subjects. For details, please refer to the HKEAA website.
In light of the above latest arrangements, the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) accepts the specific language proficiency levels attained in Urdu (from the 2026 HKDSE Examination results release day onwards) and Hindi (from the 2028 HKDSE Examination results release day onwards) in the HKDSE Category C OL examination (Details are in the Annex)as meeting the requirements of "Level 2/Level 3 in one of the five subjects in the HKDSE Examination" for civil service non-degree grade appointment purposes. Regarding the OL results obtained in the 2024 HKDSE Examination or before, the existing acceptance arrangements will remain unchanged. For matters related to civil service recruitment, please visit the CSB website.
An EDB spokesman said the Government has long been offering the OL subjects as elective subjects at the senior secondary level to develop students' multilingual competence, enabling them to make life planning based on their interests, abilities and aspirations, and to connect with the world.
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination, Photo source: reference image
CHP investigates confirmed Mpox case
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said today (June 23) that it is investigating a confirmed Mpox (also known as Monkeypox) case, and strongly urged high-risk target groups to receive Mpox vaccinations. Meanwhile, the public is advised to be vigilant and avoid close physical contact with individuals suspected of contracting Mpox.
The case involves a 44-year-old male. He developed a fever, pain and discharge in his lower body on June 11, followed by a rash on his face and trunk on June 17. During this period, the patient attended private clinics and a hospital on multiple occasions. On June 21, he attended a private hospital and was admitted for isolation treatment. He is currently in stable condition.
According to information provided by the patient, he has not been vaccinated against Mpox. During the incubation period, he had no travel history and had high-risk exposure at his home. No epidemiological linkages between this case and confirmed Mpox cases recorded in Hong Kong earlier could be identified so far. The CHP is continuing its epidemiological investigation of the case, will endeavour to contact individuals who had high-risk contact with the patient and will report the case to the World Health Organization.
Since 2022, Hong Kong has recorded a total of 92 Mpox cases (74 local cases and 18 imported cases), including the above-mentioned case. All patients were males. Epidemiological investigations revealed that most cases had high-risk sexual behaviour, including having sex with strangers or having sex without wearing condoms.
The Mpox vaccine can prevent infection and severe disease. The DH provides Mpox vaccination services for highrisk groups. The following high-risk target groups are eligible for Mpox vaccinations on a voluntary basis:
- individuals with high-risk sexual practices, e.g. having multiple sexual partners, sex workers, or having a history of sexually transmitted infection within the past 12 months;
- healthcare workersresponsible forcaring forpatients with confirmed Mpox;
- laboratory personnel working with zoonotic pox viruses; and
- animal care personnel with high risk of exposure in caseof Mpox occurrences in animals in Hong Kong.
High-risk target groups can receive Mpox walk-in vaccinations at any of the DH's Social Hygiene Service Clinics (SocHS) (namely Chai Wan SocHS, Wan Chai Male SocHS, Wan Chai Female SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Male SocHS, Yau Ma Tei Female SocHS, Yung Fung Shee SocHS, Fanling SocHS and Tuen Mun SocHS) and the DH's Yau Ma Tei Integrated Treatment Centre, without prior appointments.
Meanwhile, the DH's Kowloon Bay Integrated Treatment Centre and the Hospital Authority's Special Medical Clinics at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital also provide Mpox vaccination services for their clients.
Mpox is not transmitted through respiratory droplets or aerosols in general, and transmission would not occur through social contact. The CHP reminds the public, especially those at higher risks of exposure, to take precautions and avoid close physical contact with persons or animals suspected of being infected. They should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience relevant symptoms, including rash, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle pain, and severe headaches. They should not engage in activities with others that may involve contact with skin rash or body fluids.
For more details, please visit the CHP's page onMpoxandMpox Vaccination Programme.
Source: AI-found images
