DotDotWeekly | HK news highlights from Oct. 21 to Oct. 25
Welcome to DotDotWeekly. Every Friday, we take you on a journey through the latest local news and captivating stories from DotDotNews this week.
'Youth Post' hostel in Kai Tak to start orderly operation within next year: Alice Mak
The 2024 Policy Address proposes to convert the Kai Tak Community Isolation Facility into the "Youth Post" hostel and spaces for cultural and arts exchanges for youths.
The Secretary for Home Affairs and Youth, Alice Mak, stated at a press conference that the plan is to select a suitable organization to operate this new youth facility through an open tender process, aiming for the tender to be awarded by the end of this year, with the facility expected to commence operations in an orderly manner next year.
Any act of providing false academic credentials is against Hong Kong law, and will be strictly punished, Chief Executive John Lee said at a press conference on Oct. 22 when asked about the recent revelations from several universities regarding false academic credentials for admissions.
Lee emphasized that the government is committed to establishing Hong Kong as an international higher education hub and will vigorously promote this goal.
"Any actions that do not meet the requirements will be followed up with proactive and effective measures," he added.
Govt to ban desktop WhatsApp on computers in offices
The Hong Kong government recently issued IT security guidelines internally, mandating employees to obtain approval before using desktop versions of WhatsApp, Gmail, and cloud software in the office. Departments are required to act or develop implementation plans by the end of October, including the setup of private clouds and communication software.
Some government employees have expressed concerns that these measures might impact work efficiency. In response, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Sun Dong, acknowledged on a radio program on Oct. 22 that while these measures will indeed cause inconvenience, they are necessary due to significant security risks. He believes that departments will find alternative solutions.
Sun explained that the past year has seen severe computer intrusions within the government, emphasizing the substantial security risks associated with using instant messaging systems on government computers. The authorities have thus adopted practices common among governments globally, including those in Mainland China and the USA, which involve stricter regulations for internal computer systems. He noted that mobile devices are currently not restricted and expressed confidence that solutions will outnumber the difficulties.
HK Wine & Dine Festival kicks off at Central Harbourfront
The Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival is set to take place from Oct. 23 to 27 at the Central Harbourfront Event Space.
This year, the festival features over 300 wine and food stalls representing 35 countries and regions, including new and unique beverages such as wines and spirits from Ningxia, Yunnan, and Shandong in China. Dishes and drinks designed by chefs and mixologists from 12 Michelin-starred restaurants, Bib Gourmand eateries, and bars listed in Asia's 50 Best Bars will be showcased.
The festival also offers a "Happy Thursday" on Oct. 24, where multiple exhibitors will provide buy-one-get-one-free deals and limited-time discounts. During the Halloween-themed weekend (Oct. 26-27), a Halloween weekend spooky party will award participants dressed in Halloween costumes with coupons and other prizes.
HK unveils its first dinosaur fossil discovery: Public exhibition starts Oct. 25
A dinosaur fossil has been discovered on Port Island, marking the first time such a find has been made in Hong Kong.
The fossil, estimated to belong to the Cretaceous period, dates back approximately 145 million to 66 million years.
The discovery was made during routine specimen collection conducted by the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD) at the HK Geopark several years ago.
Bernadette Linn, Secretary for Development revealed on a radio program today (Oct. 24) that mainland experts were brought in to analyze the fossil, and in August, they confirmed that it was indeed a dinosaur bone.
The fossil is set to be displayed at the HK Heritage Discovery Centre starting tomorrow, Oct. 25, allowing the public to view this historic discovery.
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