Chief Secretary Highlights Support for Ethnic Minorities at Carnival of Care and Harmony

2026-08-23 15:16 Last Updated At：16:43

Speech by CS at Carnival of Care and Harmony

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Carnival of Care and Harmony today (August 23):

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Speech by CS at Carnival of Care and Harmony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

Speech by CS at Carnival of Care and Harmony Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. It is a great pleasure to join you today at this Carnival of Care and Harmony.

This warm and vibrant gathering reminds me of everything that makes Hong Kong a truly multicultural metropolis - its energy, its openness and its spirit that welcomes everyone. For generations, people of diverse ethnic backgrounds have called this city home.

Yet we recognise that while Hong Kong belongs to everyone, our friends from non-ethnic Chinese communities may still encounter challenges in their daily lives, whether language barriers, cultural differences or simply for not always being fully understood. That is why we are committed to taking action.

Government bureaux and departments are dedicated to providing a wide range of support services to help ethnic minorities integrate more fully into society and realise their potential so that Hong Kong can truly become a home for all.

Since assuming office, the current-term Government has been steadily enhancing these services and introducing new initiatives to support our multi-ethnic communities.

In 2024, for example, we established two additional Support Service Centres, bringing the total to 10. These centres are strategically located in districts with larger ethnic minority populations. They run many programmes and activities to help community members engage more deeply with Hong Kong life.

To enhance services, we have also set up "Ethnic Minority Care Teams" within each Support Service Centre. Each team is led by a social worker, supported by programme workers and volunteers who are familiar with the languages and cultures of the communities they serve.

Through proactive outreach - including home visits and community activities - they connect with ethnic minorities in need, assisting with everyday challenges and providing timely support during emergencies or unexpected incidents. During typhoons, for example, these teams share weather updates through their community networks, accompany those in need to temporary shelters and check on elderly individuals living alone to ensure they receive proper care.

In just over two years, these teams have reached some 18 000 ethnic minority households. That is real impact.

Moreover, as announced in last year's Policy Address, each Support Service Centre has now established a "Youth Network" and a "Women's Network".

The Youth Network offers a platform for young people to connect with one another and with the wider community, including through exchange visits to the Chinese Mainland, which deepen their understanding of Chinese history and culture.

The Women's Network, meanwhile, aims to encourage social inclusion and encourage greater community participation among ethnic minority women.

Looking ahead, we will continue our efforts to support our non-ethnic Chinese friends to better integrate into our society and create more opportunities for everyone.

I wish you all a very enjoyable carnival and a fruitful afternoon of information sharing, performances, fun and games!

Let us join hands and build an even more caring and harmonious Hong Kong.

Now, I would like to say a few words in Cantonese.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the speech.)

Inaugural AI x Cybersecurity Challenge Highlights Collaboration and Innovation in Cyber Defense Strategies

Final round of inaugural "AI x Cybersecurity Challenge" held today

The final round of the inaugural "AI x Cybersecurity Challenge", jointly organised by the Digital Policy Office (DPO), the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Professional Association, and China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited, was held at Cyberport today (August 23). The event aims to explore practical applications of AI in cybersecurity defence and foster cross-regional technical exchange and collaboration.

In his opening remarks, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said that AI is reshaping every aspect of people's life at a breathtaking speed. He noted that although innovation may at times bring new threats, these same technologies can also spur defensive capabilities. As such, the Government champions an "AI versus AI" strategy, leveraging AI to forge the strongest shields to effectively manage risks associated with the use of AI.

Professor Sun added that the Government is continuously strengthening related policies, guidelines and ethical frameworks, as well as conducting regularly cyber-attack-and-defence drills to better prepare for cybersecurity readiness. Through multipronged efforts, the Government hopes to guide society to apply AI responsibly, foster a healthy ecosystem, and strengthen city-wide resilience in face of cyberattacks.

The inaugural "AI x Cybersecurity Challenge" received an overwhelming response, attracting a total of 290 teams from local, the Chinese Mainland and overseas. The competition comprises preliminary and final rounds. The preliminary round was held in July in an online problem-solving challenge format, where 40 top-tier teams secured their spots in today's four-hour onsite final. The teams had to use their AI algorithm and automated tools to identify vulnerabilities in a simulated environment to compete for the championship. In addition, technical experts were also invited to introduce to the delegated observers the design and setup of the competition platform, as well as to share their practical application experience, thereby fostering deeper professional and technical exchanges.

The DPO will continue to enhance Hong Kong's cybersecurity standards and raise public awareness of cybersecurity through diversified activities and training initiatives. In the coming weeks, the DPO will collaborate with industry partners to organise a series of activities and lead a delegation to attend forums at the China Cybersecurity Week on the Mainland, deepening collaboration in areas such as information sharing, technical exchange, and talent cultivation. Furthermore, the DPO will continue to spearhead the organisation of the third Hong Kong Cybersecurity Attack and Defence Drill to further fortify Hong Kong's cyber defence capabilities and resilience, laying a secure and reliable digital foundation for the city's development into an international innovation and technology hub.

Chief Secretary Highlights Support for Ethnic Minorities at Carnival of Care and Harmony

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