CS: Celebrating Excellence for Student of the Year Awards 2025/26

Speech by CS at Student of the Year Awards 2025/26 Presentation Ceremony

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Student of the Year Awards 2025/26 Presentation Ceremony today (July 11):

Tammy (Publisher of the South China Morning Post, Ms Tammy Tam), Winfried (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges), Bernard (Chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Board, Mr Bernard Chan), Advisory Board members, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. It is a great pleasure to be here with you today at the Student of the Year Awards 2025/26 Presentation Ceremony.

We are here to do more than hand out the awards. We are here to honour the hard work of our students, and we are here to thank the teachers and parents who guide them, every step of the way.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Awards, a truly remarkable milestone. Over the years, the Student of the Year Awards has grown into one of Hong Kong's leading youth award programmes. It gives our students a platform to shine, and it pushes them to reach for even greater heights.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the South China Morning Post and the Hong Kong Jockey Club for organising this meaningful event year after year. Your unwavering commitment to recognising young talent helps build our next generation of leaders.

The theme of this year's edition, "Leadership in Action: Shaping the Possible", calls on every one of you to see the leader within. Leadership is not about a title. It is the courage to step forward, the strength to take responsibility, and the determination to turn ideas into reality. That is the spirit we celebrate today, and that spirit will shape a brighter future for our city, and for the world at large.

The Government shares this vision wholeheartedly. We are firmly committed to youth development. In late 2022, we released the Youth Development Blueprint, which set out more than 160 specific actions and measures. It laid down our guiding principles for promoting longterm youth development.

And we are not standing still. We have since introduced around 130 additional youthrelated measures to keep pace with evolving needs. We are determined to create an enabling environment where every young person can realise their full potential.

This year also marks the beginning of the National 15th FiveYear Plan period, a critical moment for Hong Kong's future. To align with the national strategy, the Government is now drawing up Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan.

And on youth development, we will build on the foundation of the Blueprint, and leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland while remaining closely connected to the world.

We aim to nurture a new generation of young people with a global perspective, a sense of responsibility, and a deep affection for Hong Kong and our country. This vision requires all of us, the Government, schools, families, and the wider community, to work hand in hand. Together, we will build a strong foundation for our youth to grow and succeed.

Today, my warmest congratulations go to all the finalists and award recipients. Your achievements speak volumes about your talent, dedication and resilience. You have earned more than recognition from your schools, your families and the wider community. Above all, your courage to embrace challenges, and your determination to push beyond your limits will be your greatest guides. They will serve you well as you keep reaching for excellence in everything you do.

To every student in this room, I encourage you to always have confidence in your own potential. Stay curious. Keep learning. Keep reaching for new heights. Hong Kong needs bright young minds like you, who are willing to lead, to serve and to innovate. I have every confidence that many of you will go on to shape a brighter future for our city.

Let me once again congratulate all the winners and finalists. I wish you every success in the years ahead, and I hope today's ceremony will be a memorable milestone in your future journey. Thank you!

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the Student of the Year Awards 2025/26 Presentation Ceremony today (July 11). Photo shows Mr Chan (second row, centre); the Publisher of the South China Morning Post, Ms Tammy Tam (second row, tenth right); the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (second row, tenth left); the Chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Board, Mr Bernard Chan (second row, ninth left); and guests and students at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, delivers a speech at the Student of the Year Awards 2025/26 Presentation Ceremony today (July 11). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CFS urges public not to consume batch of imported spread product suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (August 18) urged the public not to consume a batch of spread product imported from France due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately if they possess it.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: Ktipiti Extra Red Pepper & Feta Cheese Spread

Brand: L'atelier Blini

Place of origin: France

Net weight: 175 grams

Batch number: 12262661

Use-by date: August 30, 2026

Importer: City Super Limited

"The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notification from the Rappel Conso of France that the above-mentioned product is being recalled as it might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes due to suspected issue with the cold chain. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local importers to follow up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batch of the product concerned," a spokesman for the CFS said.

As a precautionary measure, the importer concerned has stopped sales and removed from shelves the affected batch of the product and has initiated a recall according to the CFS's instructions. Members of the public may call the importer's hotline at 2736 3866 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

"Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperatures. Most healthy individuals do not develop symptoms or only have mild symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea when infected. However, severe complications such as septicaemia, meningitis or even death may occur in newborns, the elderly and those with a weaker immune system. Although infected pregnant women may just experience mild symptoms generally, the infection of Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage, infant death, preterm birth, or severe infection in newborns," the spokesman added.

"In order to reduce the risk of listeriosis, susceptible populations such as pregnant women should consume freshly prepared hot food where possible, reheat chilled food until it is hot all the way through, and avoid high-risk foods, including ready-to-eat food such as cold cuts, cold smoked seafood, soft cheeses, salads, etc, or cook them thoroughly before consumption, even if they are presented as part of a dish."

The spokesman advised members of the public to stop consuming the affected batch of the product and seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after consuming the product concerned.

The CFS has contacted the French authority over the incident and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. The investigation is ongoing.

Source: AI-found images