29 Jun 2023獨媒#7886
Legislative Council passes amendments to Rules of Procedure to retain “summer recess”; Chan Han-pan: “Do meetings have to be held regularly to count as work?”
「完善」選舉制度後，由於選舉改於年底進行，立法會會期由過往10月至翌年7月，改為按年度舉行，議員因《議事規則》規定或失去傳統的「暑假」。立法會議事規則委員會早前討論作修改，今日由主席謝偉俊在立法會大會上提出動議，獲得通過。在會上立法會議員陸瀚民反擊坊間以「放暑假」形容，指是「講錯、誤解」，陳恆鑌指「係咪要經常開會先叫做嘢？其實又唔係」，議員工作不限於開會。
After the election system was “improved”, elections were moved to the end of the year, and the Legislative Council session was changed from running from October to July of the following year to being held on an annual basis. Under the Rules of Procedure, legislators might therefore lose their traditional “summer recess”. The Committee on Rules of Procedure previously discussed amendments, and its chairman, Paul Tse Wai-chun, moved the motion at today’s Legislative Council meeting, where it was passed. During the meeting, Legislative Council member Luk Hon-man pushed back against the public description of the period as a “summer holiday”, saying it was a “mistake and misunderstanding”. Chan Han-pan said, “Do meetings have to be held regularly to count as work? Actually, no,” noting that legislators’ work was not limited to attending meetings.
29 Jun 2023獨媒#7888
Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre redevelopment to cost HK$5.5 billion, including smart prison upgrades
懲教署指每日平均還柙或在囚人口，去年升至2,666人，創10年新高，其中荔枝角收押所的平均數字是1,541人，已是現時收容量的103.84%。保安局向立法會保安事務委員會提交文件，將分3個階段重建荔枝角收押所，預計工程費超過55億元，已包括「智慧監獄」的所需費用。當局稱，現時受擠迫羈留環境影響在囚人士日常活動，容易引發衝突，影響院所的紀律及秩序。工程期望2031年第四季完成所有階段工程。
The Correctional Services Department said the average daily number of people on remand or in custody rose to 2,666 last year, a 10-year high. The average number at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre was 1,541, equivalent to 103.84% of its current capacity. The Security Bureau submitted a paper to the Legislative Council Panel on Security Affairs proposing that the centre be redeveloped in three phases, with the project expected to cost more than HK$5.5 billion, including the required expenditure for a “smart prison”. The authorities said the current overcrowded detention environment affected people in custody in their daily activities and could easily trigger conflicts, affecting discipline and order at the institution. All phases of the project are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2031.
29 Jun 2023獨媒#7889
John Lee: Article 23 legislation will not be rushed to “hand in an assignment”; no “fake news” law
特首李家超近日多次表示，23條立法最遲明年實行。日前他接受《星島》訪問時提及有關23條立法，並表明不會立「假新聞」法，但會研究規管。李家超強調23條立法，倘只考慮盡快完成任務而忽略某些潛在風險，是對不住憲制責任，對不住香港和國家。至於明年1月台灣大選是否其考慮因素，他認為任何時間都有其風險。
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has repeatedly said in recent days that Article 23 legislation will be implemented by next year at the latest. In an interview with Sing Tao recently, he discussed the legislation and said that there would be no “fake news” law, although regulation would be studied. Lee stressed that if the legislation were pursued solely to complete the task as soon as possible while overlooking certain potential risks, it would fail his constitutional responsibility and let down Hong Kong and the country. As to whether Taiwan’s election in January next year would be a factor in his consideration, he said that every time had its own risks.
28 Jun 2023獨媒#7872
Chris Tang fears some people with sinister motives may exploit 1 July to create issues endangering national security
7月1日既是特首李家超上任一周年，也是香港回歸26周年的大日子，配合政府「拚經濟、拚發展」主調，是說好「開心香港」故事的機會。不過保安局局長鄧炳強接受《星島》專訪時就警告，有市民於特別日子製造議題，甚至騎劫活動，採取軟對抗，達致「邪惡」及危害國家安全目的。他又指軟對抗行為無日無之，外部勢力希望分化香港市民與政府的信任。他提醒必須小心應對，不能掉以輕心。
1 July marks both the first anniversary of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu taking office and the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty. Against the Government’s focus on striving for economic growth and development, it is an opportunity to tell the “Happy Hong Kong” story. However, in an interview with Sing Tao, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung warned that some people might create issues or even hijack events on special dates, adopting “soft resistance” to achieve “sinister” objectives and endanger national security. He said such acts of soft resistance occurred every day, while external forces sought to undermine trust between Hong Kong people and the Government. He urged people to respond cautiously and not lower their guard.
28 Jun 2023獨媒#7873
Jason Chuk-Hung Poon says prosecution was avoided to keep MTR out of the maelstrom; government condemns claim as slander
紅磡站的施工醜聞，昨日法院就承建商禮頓其中一項違例事項判罰四萬，引起公眾嘩然。當年的「吹哨者」，現為中科監察主席潘焯鴻今早在商台節目表示，政府不希望檢控令作為其大股東的港鐵捲入漩渦。政府在下午發新聞稿駁斥，形容為毫無根據的誣衊，言論無中生有和不負責任。
A construction scandal at Hung Hom Station sparked public outrage yesterday after a court fined contractor Leighton $40,000 for one of its contraventions. Jason Chuk-Hung Poon, the former whistleblower who is now chair of Chung Fo Monitoring, said on a Commercial Radio programme this morning that the government did not want prosecution to drag MTR, its major shareholder, into the maelstrom. In an afternoon press release, the government—without naming Jason Chuk-Hung Poon—rejected the claim as baseless slander, describing the remarks as fabricated and irresponsible.
28 Jun 2023明報#7876
Government, Without Naming Them, Calls Jason Chuk-Hung Poon and Michael Tien’s Remarks on Sha Tin to Central Link Irresponsible and Sinister; Tien: Most Important That Government Is Willing to Investigate
「中科監察」主席潘焯鴻及實政圓桌立法會議員田北辰昨早在電台節目評論沙中線案件，其中潘提及有傳「政府不希望港鐵捲入檢控」，田稱聽聞政府已「劃咗條線」，不會再就事件提告。政府昨午發稿不點名批評二人，指潘「無中生有和不負責任」、田「全無事實根據，居心叵測」。田北辰昨向本報稱，詫異政府嚴詞回應，但「好歡迎、好開心」當局澄清會繼續調查，「最重要政府肯查，點講我、點批評我都無所謂」，若政府繼續控告承建商，會「大快人心」。
The chairman of “China Technology Supervision” Jason Chuk-Hung Poon and Roundtable Legislative Council member Michael Tien commented on the Sha Tin to Central Link case on a radio programme yesterday morning. Pan mentioned rumours that “the Government does not want MTR Corporation to be involved in the prosecution”, while Tien said he had heard that the Government had “drawn a line” and would not bring any further charges over the incident. The Government issued a statement yesterday afternoon criticising the two without naming them, saying Pan’s remarks were “fabricated and irresponsible” and Tien’s had “no factual basis whatsoever and sinister motives”. Tien told this newspaper yesterday that he was surprised by the Government’s strongly worded response, but was “very welcome and very happy” that the authorities had clarified they would continue the investigation. “The most important thing is that the Government is willing to investigate. It doesn’t matter what it says about me or how it criticises me,” he said. If the Government continued prosecuting the contractors, it would be “a source of great satisfaction”.
27 Jun 2023獨媒#7860
Lee Wai-king Says Patriotic Education Law Will Not Be Added to Basic Law Annex III, but Government Must Still Implement It
一連三日的全國人大常委會會議昨日舉行，將審議多項草案，其中《中華人民共和國愛國主義教育法（草案）》提到，將針對個別特定人士展開愛國主義教育，包括「港澳台同胞」。坊間關注如何在香港實施，人大常委李慧琼今以視像形式見記者，稱據她了解，條例不會放進《基本法》附件三，她亦認為未必需要本地立法，要由政府自行思考如何推行愛國教育。
A three-day meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress began yesterday to consider a number of draft laws. The draft Patriotic Education Law of the People’s Republic of China says patriotic education will be provided for certain specific groups, including “Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots”. Amid public concern about how it would be implemented in Hong Kong, NPC Standing Committee member Lee Wai-king told reporters via video link today that, according to her understanding, the law would not be added to Annex III of the Basic Law. She also said local legislation might not be necessary and that the government should consider how to implement patriotic education itself.
27 Jun 2023光傳媒#7865
NPC deliberates Patriotic Education Law | John Lee: Hong Kong Government will align with requirements | commentator Lau Yui-siu: young people and children will receive “greater attention”
全國人大常委會將審議《中華人民共和國愛國主義教育法（草案）》（下稱草案），是中國首次立法規管愛國教育，內容更涵蓋港澳台人士及海外僑胞。行政長官李家超今出席行政會議前表示，無論人大常委通過的法例是否在港適用，「港府都會對接國家對愛國主義教育的要求」。時事評論員劉銳紹預料，方案特別強調的青少年、學生和教職員將受到「較大關顧」。
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress will deliberate the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Patriotic Education (Draft), the country’s first legislation regulating patriotic education. Its provisions also cover people in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese. Before attending the Executive Council meeting today, Chief Executive John Lee said that regardless of whether the law passed by the NPC Standing Committee applies in Hong Kong, “the Hong Kong Government will align with the country’s requirements for patriotic education”. Current affairs commentator Lau Yui-siu expected that young people, students and teaching staff, who are given particular emphasis in the draft, would receive “greater attention”.
27 Jun 2023光傳媒#7866
Senior civil servants wear red scarves during Beijing training; Yang Ho-pei-yin: cultivate loyalty to the country
逾20位常任秘書長及政府部門首長在北京國家行政學院參與研修課程，根據政府新聞處發布的相片，女性首長級公務員戴上紅色領巾，男性首長級公務員則佩戴紅領呔。公務員事務局局長楊何蓓茵強調，培養公務員三個「忠於」，「忠於國家、忠於特區政府及忠於我們的工作這個心態」。今次培訓課程加入國家安全，由國防大學國家安全學院副院長、陸軍少將唐永勝授課。
More than 20 permanent secretaries and heads of government departments took part in a training course at the National Academy of Governance in Beijing. Photographs released by the Information Services Department showed female senior civil servants wearing red scarves, while male senior civil servants wore red ties. Secretary for the Civil Service Yang Ho-pei-yin stressed the cultivation of a mindset among civil servants of being loyal in three ways: “loyal to the country, loyal to the HKSAR Government and loyal to our work.” National security was added to this training course, with a lecture delivered by Tong Wing-sing, deputy head of the National Security College of the National Defense University and a major general in the Army.
26 Jun 2023獨媒#7853
Greater Bay Area nurses say Hong Kong exchange is enjoyable and stress-free; if patients do not understand their Cantonese, they will “speak louder”
今次「人才交流」計劃，醫管局預計，兩年內邀請300名廣東省護士來港，首批70次護士已在4月中來港，並分派至不同醫院聯網，第二批100人預計年尾或明年初來港。醫管局指，大灣區護士來港前要先完成80小時「網上理論課程」，來港後在本地醫護「一對一」監督下，參與內科及老人科病房的護理工作，包括為病人評估，傷口護理及健康教育等，每周工作44小時，完成45星期的臨床實習，醫管局會安排住宿及每月生活津貼。
Under the “talent exchange” programme, the Hospital Authority expects to invite 300 nurses from Guangdong to Hong Kong over two years. The first batch of 70 nurses arrived in mid-April and was assigned to different hospital clusters, while a second batch of 100 is expected to arrive at the end of this year or early next year. The Hospital Authority said Greater Bay Area nurses must complete 80 hours of online theoretical courses before coming to Hong Kong. After arriving, they will take part in nursing work in medical and geriatric wards under one-to-one supervision by local healthcare professionals, including patient assessment, wound care and health education. They will work 44 hours per week and complete 45 weeks of clinical training. The Hospital Authority will arrange accommodation and provide a monthly living allowance.
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
