Nearly 1,000 Hong Kong and Macao youth embark on Beijing visit for national flag-raising ceremony.

"Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation departs

The "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation held a departure ceremony today (September 18). The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and various guests saw off nearly 1 000 participating Hong Kong teachers and students at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.

The visit is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government and the Macao SAR Government, the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and the Beijing Municipal People's Government. It enables participating tertiary, secondary and primary students from Hong Kong and Macao to witness in person the solemn flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square, experience the historical culture and development achievements of the capital, deepen their sense of national identity and patriotism, enhance their understanding of the national development and the symbolic significance of the national flag, and continuously promote patriotic education while putting into practice the concept of a "walking classroom".

Dr Choi said this high-level key youth exchange programme fully demonstrates the Central People's Government's high regard for the development of Hong Kong and Macao young people and is of special significance. The national flag is not merely a flag; it is also a vivid lesson in national education, reminding us that the country's development has not come easily and that national rejuvenation requires continued efforts of generations.

During the five-day itinerary, students will gain an in-depth understanding of the country's outstanding achievements in economic development and urban planning. Dr Choi expressed the hope that students will cherish every rare opportunity, observe and record attentively, and be able to read history and responsibility from the national flag, thereby deepening their understanding of and identification with the country.

The Hong Kong contingent of the delegation comprises nearly 1 000 members, including around 940 representatives from tertiary, secondary and primary schools that include students of flag-raising teams, as well as representatives from the Education Bureau, the Association of Hong Kong Flag-guards and the Hong Kong Army Cadets Association.

After arriving in Beijing by high-speed rail, the delegation will meet with representatives of the Macao flag-raising teams and conduct a series of visits and exchanges with schools in Beijing.

Dr Choi will depart tomorrow (September 19) for a visit to the Mainland to join the activities of the "Salute to the National Flag" delegation. During the trip, she will go to Tianjin to meet local officials to strengthen exchanges in education and youth between the two places. She will then participate in the first Beijing study tour of the Citizenship and Social Development subject, and the National Day and Professional Exchange Delegation to Beijing from the Hong Kong Education Sector.

Dr Choi will return to Hong Kong on September 24. During her absence, the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, will be the Acting Secretary for Education.

"Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation departs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation departs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation departs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation departs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation departs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation departs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation departs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation departs Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Grading of beach water quality released

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (September 18) released the latest grading of water quality for 39 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (see Note 2).

Seventeen beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1) and 23 as Fair (Grade 2).

Grade 1 beaches are:

Cheung Chau Tung Wan Beach*	Shek O Beach*
Chung Hom Kok Beach	South Bay Beach*
Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach	St. Stephen's Beach*
Hap Mun Bay Beach*	Stanley Main Beach*
Hung Shing Yeh Beach*	Tai Po Lung Mei Beach*
Lo So Shing Beach	Tong Fuk Beach
Kwun Yam Beach	Trio Beach*
Pui O Beach*	Upper Cheung Sha Beach
Repulse Bay Beach*

Grade 2 beaches are:

Anglers' Beach*	Hoi Mei Wan Beach*
Approach Beach*	Kadoorie Beach*
Big Wave Bay Beach*	Kiu Tsui Beach
Butterfly Beach*	Lido Beach*
Cafeteria New Beach*	Lower Cheung Sha Beach
Cafeteria Old Beach	Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach*
Casam Beach*	Middle Bay Beach*
Castle Peak Beach	Silver Mine Bay Beach*
Clear Water Bay First Beach*	Silverstrand Beach*
Clear Water Bay Second Beach*	Ting Kau Beach*
Deep Water Bay Beach*	Turtle Cove Beach
Golden Beach*

Compared with the grading released last week,Kwun Yam Beach and Tong Fuk Beach have been upgraded from Grade 2 to Grade 1. Deep Water Bay Beach and Middle Bay Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

"The changes in beach water quality are generally within the normal range of natural fluctuation," an EPD spokesman said.

Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.

While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a tropical cyclone or heavy rainfall.

A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666. Members of the public can also obtain the latest daily water quality forecast information for all beaches that are open for swimming through the EPD's dedicated webpage on the beach water quality forecast (www.epd.gov.hk/en/BWQForecast).

Note 1: Lifesaving services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 29 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from September 1. For details, please refer to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Special Announcement (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/index.html).

Note 2: This refers to Discovery Bay Tai Pak Beach which has no lifesaving service.

Source: AI-found images