"Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation received by state leader
The "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, was received by Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, Mr Ding Xuexiang, at the Great Hall of the People today (September 21).
Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, Mr Ding Xuexiang, Photo source: reference image
The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, several guests, primary and secondary students and teachers and post-secondary students from Hong Kong and Macao, as well as representatives from the Association of Hong Kong Flag-guards and the Hong Kong Army Cadets Association, also attended the meeting.
Mr Chan expressed deep gratitude to Vice Premier Ding for personally guiding the Hong Kong and Macao youth and even more so to the nation for providing this valuable opportunity for students to take part in the solemn flagraising ceremony at Tiananmen Square and experience the historical culture and development achievements of the capital. He said that this was a rare and profound patriotic education experience. During the solemn flagraising ceremony, students felt the dignity of the national flag and anthem up close, deepening their understanding of the symbolic meaning of the flag, as well as national situation and development. Through a rich itinerary of visits, the students also gained a genuine appreciation of the challenges and accomplishments of the nation's journey from history to rejuvenation, further strengthening their national identity, the sense of national pride, affection for and sense of belonging to the country.
Mr Chan emphasised that the trip is of great significance for promoting patriotic education in Hong Kong's primary and secondary schools. In addition to textbook learning, bringing students into the sites of national history and culture allows them to experience emotions firsthand and deepen their understanding through real stories, which greatly contributes to patriotic education. The delegation's itinerary organically integrated national flag education, history education, cultural education and national development education, making patriotism more concrete, vivid and powerful in the hearts of students, guiding them to consciously safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and aspiring to become a new generation that loves the country and Hong Kong and is willing to take responsibility.
"Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit Delegation was received by state leader. Photo source: Xinhua News
DSD project awarded Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize
The Hong Kong Seaside and Riverside Enhancement Scheme - Revitalization of Tsui Ping River and Upgrading of Sewage Facilities in Kwun Tong, a project by the Drainage Services Department (DSD), has been awarded the 21st Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize (Municipal Infrastructure Category). The prize recognises the project's outstanding performance in engineering technology innovation and the application of technology, as well as in driving high-quality industry development.
Attending the prize presentation ceremony held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, today (September 22), the Director of Drainage Services, Mr Ringo Mok, said that the project is the DSD's first comprehensive municipal initiative integrating flood protection, sewage treatment and waterfront enhancement. The prize is a recognition of the team's efforts in delivering people-oriented and river-focused infrastructure projects, and highlights the achievements of the Hong Kong engineering sector in applying advanced technology and balancing flood protection with conservation.
The project integrates two major works, namely the Revitalization of Tsui Ping River and the Enhancement Works for the Kwun Tong Sewage Pumping Station. The approximately one-kilometre-long Tsui Ping River, which had in earlier years been artificially converted into a reinforced concrete open drainage channel, has been revitalised into a scenic riverside space through ecological restoration and installation of facilities including cross-river walkways and Hong Kong's first smart water gate in a river channel. In addition, an underground sewage balancing tank with a capacity of 16 000 cubic metres was constructed beneath the sewage pumping station, while the 11 000-square-metre Cha Kwo Ling Promenade was built on its roof. The project not only enhances local flood resilience and improves the water quality of Victoria Harbour, but also unlocks waterfront space, connecting approximately 1.7km of coastline to form a continuous promenade and provide high-quality leisure space for the public.
The judging panel of the prize highly commended the project's adoption of innovative technologies and designs, in particular the "single site, multiple uses" model and the creation of green public spaces; the use of an AI-based water level forecasting system and a smart site safety system during construction; the installation of a smart water gate in the river channel that rises and falls with the tides to effectively enhance construction efficiency and environmental performance; and the linking of river water level data with surrounding underground stormwater storage tanks through a sophisticated control system to form a co-ordinated "tank-lake-river" flood protection network, demonstrating excellent flood discharge performance.
Established by the China Civil Engineering Society and the Beijing Tien-yow Jeme Foundation for Development of Science and Technology in Civil Engineering, the Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize aims to commend civil engineering projects with outstanding achievements in technological innovation and application. The DSD was previously awarded the prize for its Stormwater Interception and Storage Schemes for Hong Kong Urban Areas project and the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme in 2014 and 2018 respectively.
