Speech by SCST at kick-off ceremony of Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the kick-off ceremony of the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme today (September 7):
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, Photo source: HKJC
Dear Winfried (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges), Mr Yao Ming (Founder and Chairman of the YAO Foundation), Dr Axel Schweitzer (President and Owner of ALBA BERLIN Basketball), Mr Andreas Zagklis (Secretary-General of the International Basketball Federation), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,
Good afternoon and it is indeed my real pleasure to join you today for the kick-off of the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme.
As Winfried said, basketball is one of Hong Kong's most beloved sports, transcending age and district – from children picking up a ball for the first time to seniors staying active in our neighbourhood courts. The Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme represents a model of international collaboration, blending best practices from around the world to enrich the lives of young people. ALBA BERLIN brings a European youth development system that is as committed to personal growth as it is to athletic skill, while the YAO Foundation has pioneered the use of basketball as a tool for holistic education across the Chinese Mainland - embracing the philosophy of "moving from teaching basketball to educating through basketball" ().
I am delighted to see the Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, and the Hong Kong Playground Association skilfully adapting these proven models into a curriculum tailored for Hong Kong. By integrating structured training, regular competitions, and activities focused on leadership and character building including camps and volunteer service, this programme ensures that we are not just teaching dribbling and shooting; we are building the character and resilience of our teenagers.
Equally commendable is the partnership between the Chinese YMCA and ALBA BERLIN to train the next generation of coaches. This kind of capacity building is exactly what will sustain basketball development in Hong Kong for years to come. I look forward to seeing this five-year programme generate strong synergies with other basketball initiatives across the community, inspiring even more young people to discover a lasting passion for the sport.
Local elite basketball players and ALBA coaches interact with young people in a skills demonstration at the kick-off ceremony of the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme. Photo source; HKJC
The Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government remains steadfast in its commitment to sports development, guided by five key policy directions: promoting sports in the community, supporting elite sports, maintaining Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, enhancing professionalism, and developing sports as an industry. In basketball, our Development Programme for Team Sports provides dedicated funding to strengthen the Hong Kong, China Basketball Team and its second-tier squad. Furthermore, from this month through December, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will stage six thematic sports days across the city, featuring basketball, football, and volleyball. This aligns closely with our country's national drive to elevate the "three major ball games" and encourage every citizen to participate.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for its generous support. Last September, I had the pleasure of officiating at the launch of its Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme. Today, the Hoops Connect initiative carries that commitment forward and works hand in hand with the Government's continuous efforts to promote sports in the community.
Before I close, I invite everyone to stay tuned for the Asian Games, which will commence later this month. Some 580 Hong Kong, China athletes will compete in nearly 40 sports, including women's 5-on-5 and men's 3-on-3 basketball. Please do join me in cheering them on as they take to the international stage.
Congratulations once again on today's launch. May Hoops Connect truly live up to its name – may the hoop bring our youth together and nurture our next generation of basketball talent. Thank you.
Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government (centre); Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (6th left); Andreas Zagklis, Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation (6th right); Dr Axel Schweitzer, President and Owner of ALBA Berlin Basketball (5th left); Yao Ming, Founder and Chairman of the YAO Foundation (5th right); Billie Lau, Executive Director of The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong (4th left); Hsu Siu-man, Executive Director of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (4th right); Dr Wan Lap-man, Executive Director of Hong Kong Playground Association (3rd left); Johnny Wong, General Secretary of Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong (3rd right); Dr Gabriel Leung, Executive Director, Charities and Community of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (2nd right); Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (2nd left), and other guests at the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme kick-off ceremony. Photo source: HKJC
DH announces latest situation regarding Legionnaires' disease cases
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 7) reported the latest number of Legionnaires' disease (LD) cases, and reminded the public of the importance of using and maintaining properly designed man-made water systems, adding that susceptible groups should strictly observe relevant precautions.
From August 30 to September 5, the CHP recorded three community-acquired LD cases, involving two males and one female aged between 61 and 68. All of them had underlying illnesses. Details are as follows:
- a 61-year-old male living in Kwai Tsing District;
- a 67-year-old male living in Kwai Tsing District; and
- a 68-year-old female living in Tuen Mun District.
The CHP is conducting epidemiological investigations to identify the potential sources of infection and high-risk exposure. An initial investigation revealed that the three community-acquired cases are sporadic cases. No epidemiological linkages have been established between these cases and other confirmed cases previously recorded in Hong Kong. In general, the incidence of LD is related to ambient temperature. More cases are recorded in the summer months when the ambient temperature is higher, which provides a favourable temperature range for the proliferation of Legionella bacteria.
As of September 5, 139 LD cases had been recorded this year. In 2025 and 2024, there were 167 and 135 LD cases respectively.
Men, people aged over 50, smokers, alcoholics and persons with weakened immunity are more susceptible to LD. Some situations may also increase the risk of infection, including poor maintenance of water systems; living in areas with old water systems, cooling towers or fountains; using electric water heaters, whirlpool spas or hot water spring spas; and recent stays in hotels or ships.
Legionellae are found in various environmental settings and grow well in warm water (20 to 45 degrees Celsius). They can be found in aqueous environments such as water tanks, hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, whirlpool spas, water fountains, humidifiers and home respiratory devices that support breathing. People may become infected when they breathe in contaminated droplets (aerosols) and mist generated by artificial water systems, or when handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes.
Immunocompromised persons should:
- Use sterile or boiled water for drinking, tooth brushing and mouth rinsing;
- Avoid using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices; and
- If using humidifiers, or other mist- or aerosol-generating devices, fill the water tank with only sterile or cooled freshly boiled water, and not water directly from the tap. Also, clean and maintain humidifiers/devices regularly according to manufacturers' instructions. Never leave stagnant water in a humidifier/device. Empty the water tank, wipe all surfaces dry, and change the water daily.
The public should observe the health advice below:
- Observe personal hygiene;
- Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption;
- Strainers in water taps and shower heads should be inspected, cleaned, descaled and disinfected regularly or at a frequency recommended by the manufacturer;
- If a fresh-water plumbing system is properly maintained, it is not necessary to install domestic water filters. Use of water filters is not encouraged as clogging occurs easily, which can promote growth of micro-organisms. In case water filters are used, the pore size should be 0.2 micrometres (µm) or less and the filter needs to be changed periodically according to the manufacturer's recommendations;
- Drain and clean water tanks of buildings at least quarterly;
- Drain or purge for at least one minute infrequently used water outlets (e.g. water taps, shower heads and hot water outlets) and stagnant points of the pipework weekly or before use;
- Seek and follow doctors' professional advice regarding the use and maintenance of home respiratory devices and use only sterile water (not distilled or tap water) to clean and fill the reservoir. Clean and maintain the device regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. After cleaning/disinfection, rinse the device with sterile water, cooled freshly boiled water or water filtered with 0.2 µm filters. Never leave stagnant water in the device. Empty the water tank, keep all surfaces dry, and change the water daily; and
- When handling garden soil, compost and potting mixes:
- Wear gloves and a face mask;
- Water gardens and compost gently using low pressure;
- Open composted potting mixes slowly and make sure the opening is directed away from the face;
- Wet the soil to reduce dust when potting plants; and
- Avoid working in poorly ventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses.
The public may visit the CHP's LD page, the Code of Practice for Prevention of LD and the Housekeeping Guidelines for Cold and Hot Water Systems for Building Management of the Prevention of LD Committee, and the CHP's risk-based strategy for prevention and control of LD.
Additionally, as smokers and alcoholics are more susceptible to LD, the Government urges members of the public to quit smoking and avoid drinking. Members of the public may call the DH Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline at 1833 183, which is answered by registered nurses who provide professional counselling and referrals to a wide range of free smoking cessation services. The public may also visit the smoking cessation thematic website (www.livetobaccofree.hk) for more information on smoking cessation. The DH has also developed and promulgated the Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention tool to primary healthcare service providers to facilitate the early identification and management of at-risk drinkers. For information on alcohol-related harm, please visit the DH's Change for Health website.
The Centre for Health Protection, Photo source: reference image
