Government announces investigation results of SMS incident of Primary One Central Allocation
The Government announced today (June 26) the results of its investigation into the SMS incident of Central Allocation (CA) for Primary One Admission (POA) results, as well as related follow-up actions and enhancement measures.
The Education Bureau (EDB) is highly concerned about the incident. Immediately after the incident, an investigation team was set up to conduct a thorough investigation with a view to clarifying the details of the incident, including whether negligence was involved. The investigation team also comprehensively reviewed the system operation, procedural arrangements and manpower deployment of the related work, so as to further enhance the information dissemination mechanism and supervision processes, to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
The investigation revealed that the incident primarily involved an EDB officer, who on the morning of June 2 made an operational error while setting up the SMS sending procedure in the relevant system. This resulted in SMS messages containing incorrect year and registration date, which were sent to parents one day earlier than the official announcement date originally scheduled. The SMS incident did not affect the CA results, which were announced on June 3. Having regard to the nature of the incident, the negligence of the staff member concerned, the inconvenience caused to parents, the public attention and the impact on the Government's reputation, the EDB has decided to take disciplinary follow-up action against the staff member concerned. Deficiencies in the performance of the relevant duties will be reflected in the staff member's appraisal, and an increment will not be granted. The staff member will also be transferred to perform other duties.
The investigation also found that another EDB staff member had not established sufficient review and approval measures in the workflow, and the staff member's supervisory and management performance was not satisfactory. Advice has been given to the staff member concerned. The EDB will also reflect the relevant inadequacies in the staff member's appraisal report.
The investigation task force concluded that in addition to negligence, the incident also showed areas for improvement in the current workflow and internal supervision mechanisms. After a comprehensive review of related workflows, system design and staff arrangements, the task force recommended a series of enhancement measures:
(1) Compiling internal working guidelines, clearly outlining the workflow, division of duties and responsibilities and approval arrangements for disseminating messages with regular reviews and updates;
(2) Establishing a multi-tier review and approval procedure in the message dissemination mechanism. The delivery task can only be activated after confirmation by staff from multiple tiers, and changes after task confirmation will be restricted; and
(3) Conducting practical drills before large-scale SMS dissemination, and holding briefings and training sessions on system operation continuously on a regular basis with a view to enhancing staff members' understanding of the workflow and dissemination system, as well as improving their responsiveness and risk awareness.
The School Places Allocation Section of the EDB has immediately implemented the above enhancement measures. Other sections will also enhance processes involving dissemination of information to the public according to the above principles to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the relevant information.
Source: AI-found images
FS continues visit to Xi'an
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (June 26) continued his visit programme in Xi'an.
Mr Chan today called on the Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Mr Zhao Yide, and had an in-depth exchange of views on further strengthening co-operation between Shaanxi and Hong Kong. Mr Chan said that Shaanxi has gathered innovative resources, possesses strong research capabilities, and has complete and thriving industrial chains in areas such as national hard technology research and development, aerospace and aviation, and major equipment manufacturing. Hong Kong, with its advantages as an international financial centre and in high-end professional services under "one country, two systems”, together with its common law system and free port status, is an important hub connecting the Mainland and international markets.
He said that the two places can deepen co-operation in areas such as innovation and research and development, commercialisation of research outcomes, cultivation of innovative enterprises and listing financing, as well as talent exchanges and higher education. This would better connect Shaanxi's research and industrial strengths with Hong Kong's financial and internationalisation advantages, achieve resource sharing and mutual empowerment, enable each other's success, and jointly serve the country's development of new quality productive forces and high-quality development. He invited Xi’an enterprises to form delegations to visit Hong Kong, exchange and connect with Hong Kong enterprises and the investment community, and explore further co-operation.
In the morning, Mr Chan visited Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), where he met with the President of NPU, Professor Song Baowei, and held a discussion session with innovation and technology enterprises. He then delivered a speech to more than 200 teachers, students and alumni, engaging in in-depth exchanges on promoting hard technology innovation, commercialisation of research outcomes, and deepening co-operation between Xi'an and Hong Kong in scientific research and industrial development.
In his speech, Mr Chan pointed out that NPU students have demonstrated, in different ways, a spirit of craftsmanship in perfecting technologies and products. However, for technology to move from the laboratory to the world, it no longer depends only on whether the product is advanced, but also on whether it can withstand the tests of supply chain restructuring and alignment with international standards.
He said that globalisation is shifting from the previous "efficiency first" model to one that places equal emphasis on "efficiency and resilience", with supply chain security, self-reliance in core technologies, and cross-boundary regulation becoming key considerations. Against this backdrop, the country is strengthening basic research and original innovation, supporting breakthroughs with long-term accumulated "slow variables". At the same time, areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced materials and quantum technology are crossing the threshold of industrialisation, forming synergistic development among "technology clusters" and driving the development of new industries, new models and new growth drivers.
Mr Chan pointed out that Xi'an has a profound foundation in hard technology and is an important fertile ground for the accumulation of related technologies, with its achievements being accelerated for civilian application. Hong Kong, with its common law system, free port advantages and international platform, brings together capital, talent and professional services, to help connect technological achievements with international markets, and promote "Xi'an R&D, Hong Kong empowerment, global application".
He encouraged young people to be professionally strong and broad-minded, and to actively enter the intersection of "finance + technology". He also encouraged them to base themselves in the country and look to the world, seize opportunities amid changes, enhance their sustainable competitiveness, and grasp the broad opportunities brought about by technological development.
In the afternoon, Mr Chan visited the Xi'an High-tech Industries Development Zone (Xi'an High-tech Zone). As a national-level high-tech industries development zone, the Xi'an High-tech Zone focuses on strategic emerging industries such as electronic information, high-end equipment, new energy and new materials. The Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Mr Peter Yan, and representatives of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) and Invest Hong Kong also joined the visit.
Mr Chan and his delegation visited enterprises engaged respectively in advanced energy storage, optoelectronic integration, metal additive manufacturing, and high-end equipment inspection and testing, to learn about their latest progress in frontier technology research and development and industrialisation. Mr Chan then held a discussion session with representatives of 25 enterprises in the Xi'an High-tech Zone, exchanging views on promoting hard technology innovation, facilitating deeper integration among industry, academia, research and application, and expanding co-operation between Hong Kong and Shaanxi in areas such as technology and innovation, finance and professional services.
During the discussion session, a number of enterprises expressed strong interest and willingness to access international capital through Hong Kong and further expand into overseas markets. Mr Chan welcomed them to come to Hong Kong for fundraising and financing, global expansion, and technology research and development and advanced manufacturing. He asked the OASES, the HKIC, HKEX and others to fully connect with them and provide support.
Mr Chan will continue his itinerary in Xi'an tomorrow (June 27) and attend the inaugural Western Commercial Aerospace Conference.
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FS continues visit to Xi'an Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
