Latest news with #Putonghua
RTHK
7 days ago
- Business
- RTHK
Arabic translations in HK digital publishing soon
Arabic translations in HK digital publishing soon Rosanna Law, centre, said Arabic translations will soon be included in the Publishing 3.0+ project. Photo: RTHK Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said on Wednesday that Hong Kong's enhanced digital publishing initiative will soon incorporate Arabic translations in the hope of strengthening cultural ties with the Middle East. Law made the announcement at a launch ceremony for Publishing 3.0+, where she highlighted the success of its predecessor, Publishing 3.0. That project enabled approximately 60 local publishers to convert paper publications into 5,000 bilingual e-books and audiobooks in Cantonese, Putonghua and English, capitalising on digital transformation. Building on this success, Publishing 3.0+ leverages artificial intelligence to further modernise the industry. Law said the enhanced initiative will utilise large language models to significantly improve multilingual translations and content conversion capabilities. "Publishing 3.0+ will refine the e-books and audiobooks converted over the past years and further deliver another 5,000 translated and converted copies of books," she said. "The fruitful expected outcome of 10,000 e-books and audiobooks will be showcased in Hong Kong pavilions at various international book fairs in the coming months." Law also confirmed plans to incorporate Arabic translations into the project. "During my official visit to the Middle East in April this year, I was deeply impressed by the region's rich cultural and historical heritage," she said. "I am most delighted that Publishing 3.0+ will continue our effort to realise closer cultural links and friendship between the Middle East and Hong Kong, aligning the shared visions of both regions." Sharon Wong, one of the chairs at Publishing 3.0+, said the first phase saw a 75 percent improvement in e-book conversion speed and that the new initiative enhances local publishers' multilingual capabilities. "I hope that through this project, we can bring copyright holders, creators and AI developers together and work together in enhancing Hong Kong as a cultural centre or IP trading hub because we are under rapid AI development," she said. "That is to promote the publishing industry and to promote our cultural product overseas."
The Sun
04-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Creative Primary School's Kindergarten Celebrates 40th Anniversary Milestone
Creative Primary School's Kindergarten (CPSKG) – Nurturing Future Minds Since 1985 HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 4 July 2025 - Located at 2A Oxford Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China. Creative Primary School's Kindergarten (CPSKG) was established in 1985 and proudly celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025. The school deeply understands the needs of parents and children, offering a forward-thinking thematic curriculum that employs experiential and inquiry-based learning to spark children's enthusiasm for knowledge. With a trilingual (Cantonese, Putonghua, and English) teaching team conducting daily immersive language sessions, CPSKG provides a systematic bilingual (Chinese-English) and Putonghua programme. As part of the Creative Schools continuum—including Creative Primary School (CPS) and Creative Secondary School (CSS)—CPSKG students enjoy priority admission to CPS, while CSS has produced top scorers in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, ensuring a seamless, high-quality education pathway. • Exclusive Educational Pathway: The only kindergarten in Hong Kong with a direct affiliation to CPS and CSS in Hong Kong • CSS has a track record of producing IB perfect scorers, reflecting its high academic standards. • Priority admission to Creative Primary School • Awarded 'Outstanding Happy Campus Award' by UHKA & Chief Happiness Officer Association • Trilingual (Cantonese/English/Putonghua) immersion with structured small-group instruction • Strong and Diverse primary school placement advantages Child-Centered Education for Future Leaders CPSKG adheres to a student-focused philosophy, continuously innovating its curriculum to nurture globally minded future leaders ('Future Minds'). Recognizing parents' concerns about school readiness and holistic development, the school employs engaging, research-backed methods like experiential learning and cross-disciplinary projects to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. The curriculum integrates real-world applications, blending art, social exploration, and interdisciplinary themes to deepen understanding while strengthening communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. It also emphasizes foundational competencies and positive attitudes to prepare children for lifelong success. Trilingual Excellence & Global Perspectives CPSKG prioritizes early literacy and communication skills, with native-speaking Putonghua and English teachers delivering structured daily language sessions. Principal Ms. Ng Hing-Lin explains: 'Children are at the heart of our work. Our trilingual team designs immersive programmes rooted in children's literature to inspire a love for languages—key to earning parents' trust over 40 years.' Outstanding Achievements in Arts & Academics 25+ students won awards at the 2025 Hong Kong Youth Painting Competition (8 Gold, 11 Silver, 5 Bronze, and 3 Champion/Podium titles). Recognized with the 'Excellence in Arts Education Award' by the Hong Kong Children's Cultural & Arts Association. Early Childhood Literature & Innovative Learning Early Childhood Literature' is a unique learning feature of CPSKG, aimed primarily at cultivating children's interest in words and reading, as well as enriching their language skills. Through two major language learning programmes at the school—Putonghua's 'Children's Poetry and Painting' and the English 'Early Literacy Programme'—children engage in enjoyable language learning experiences, feeling the rhythm and rhyme of children's poetry and understanding the meanings expressed in words. This enriches their imagination and broadens their thinking. Effectively Using Mind Maps to Cultivate Independent Learning Abilities Establishing a good learning attitude and skills from a young age is crucial for future learning. To foster children's ability and habit of independent learning, CPSKG teaches children to use mind maps for learning and summarizing information. This learning method allows children to use illustrations and words to organize their thoughts and express what they have learned. It not only boosts their confidence in exploring new knowledge but also helps teachers understand their learning progress. Seamless K-12 Continuum CPSKG's curriculum aligns with CPS and CSS under the 'Three Schools * One Philosophy * One Continuum' ethos, ensuring a smooth transition through primary, secondary, and beyond. CSS's IB programme and university pathways further solidify this future-ready education. Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence In 2025, CPSKG will host anniversary events for parents, alumni, and the community to reflect on its legacy and explore new educational frontiers. Enrollment Now Open – Join Us in Shaping Future Leaders! Contact Us Creative Primary School's Kindergarten (CPSKG) 2A Oxford Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong (Shared campus with CPS) 2336 1212 | admin@ | Creative Primary School (CPS) 2A Oxford Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong (Shared campus with CPSKG) 2336 0266 | cps@ | Creative Secondary School (CSS) 3 Pung Loi Road, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong 2336 0233 | admissions@
RTHK
06-06-2025
- General
- RTHK
Chinese language centre opens for non-native students
Chinese language centre opens for non-native students More than 200 students attended trial classes and learned about the international Chinese language curriculum. Photo: RTHK A new Chinese language learning assessment centre has opened in Hong Kong to support secondary students who do not speak the language. Established through a collaboration between a professional examinations body under the Ministry of Education's Centre for Language Education and Cooperation and the Hong Kong Financial Services Institute, the centre recently held its first teaching and exchange session at a secondary school. More than 200 students have attended trial classes and learnt about the international Chinese language curriculum. The centre said it would create specialised teaching materials covering both Cantonese and Putonghua tailored specifically for Hong Kong's non-Chinese speaking students. A key feature of the programme involves reinforcing lessons: material studied in Cantonese during the week would be revisited on weekends using Putonghua and simplified characters. Through these weekend classes over three years, the centre is aiming for students to achieve proficiency levels equivalent to HSK 3 or 4 – standardised tests for non-native speakers. Students who succeed in passing the HSK 4 standard would be able to apply for admission to mainland universities. Participating students expressed enthusiasm, finding the learning experience enjoyable and valuable for communicating with more people.
Time Out
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Hong Kong's giant panda twin cubs are officially named Jia Jia and De De
Just when you think the 'pandamania' is slowly calming down in the city, Ocean Park is ramping up the excitement once again with an announcement of the official names for Hong Kong's beloved panda twin cubs! Here's what you need to know about the newly named pair. What are the names of the giant panda twins in Hong Kong? On August 15, 2024, the city's beloved giant panda Ying Ying became the oldest first-time giant panda mum on record, having given birth to two twin panda cubs – affectionately nicknamed 'Elder Sister' and 'Little Brother' just a day before her 19th birthday. 'Elder sister' is now named Jia Jia, while De De is the official name for 'Little Brother'! The meaning of Jia Jia and De De Jia Jia (加加) uses the Chinese character '加' to convey the message of support, like 'add oil' (加油). The word 'jia' is also a homophone for the Chinese characters '家', meaning home, and '嘉', meaning auspices, in both Cantonese and Putonghua. 'Jia' also features an element of family and a sense of auspicious grace, embodying the prosperity of families and the nation as well as the happiness of the people. Meanwhile, De De (得得) means 'to succeed', symbolising that the city will be successful in everything we do. 'De' is also a homophone for the Chinese character for 'virtue' (德) in Cantonese and Putonghua, suggesting that the giant pandas, our national treasures, possess the virtues cherished by people. How were the names Jia Jia and De De chosen? Out of 35,7000 entries in a contest run by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and Ocean Park, the judging panel – comprised of representatives from CSTB, the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, OPC, and prominent social figures – chose the most meaningful and creative names that they felt best represent the young and lively characteristics of the giant panda cubs. The winner of the naming competition will receive: Ocean Park annual membership for four adults (valued at $5,520) 'Elder Sister' and 'Little Brother' giant panda baby plush (valued at $6,576) Ocean Park F&B vouchers (valued at $2,000) Chow Tai Fook gift voucher (valued at $8,000) Eight other lucky winners will also get their hands on the Merit Prize, which has: Ocean Park annual membership for two adults (valued at $2,760) Giant panda souvenirs (valued at $1,000) Ocean Park F&B vouchers (valued at $1,000) Visit 'Jia Jia' and 'De De' at Ocean Park Hong Kong You can now see Jia Jia and De De at Ocean Park's Giant Panda Adventure, open daily from 10am to 4.30pm. The opening hours are subject to change, so do check for the latest updates on the park's website before you go.
RTHK
20-05-2025
- Politics
- RTHK
Xia tells HK Coalition to contribute more to country
Xia tells HK Coalition to contribute more to country Tam Yiu-chung (left) read out a congratulatory message from Xia Baolong at an event marking Hong Kong Coalition's fifth anniversary. Photo: RTHK The director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Xia Baolong, on Tuesday urged the Hong Kong Coalition to make greater contributions to the SAR and the country's rise as a strong nation. He made the comments in a congratulatory message for the group's fifth anniversary which was read out by its secretary-general, Tam Yiu-chung. Xia was also quoted as saying there should be greater collaboration with the international community, as Hong Kong connects with the country's strategy in a pro-active manner. He told the coalition to thoroughly learn from the spirit of important speeches of President Xi Jinping, and proactively recognise, respond to and seek changes. The head of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong, Zheng Yanxiong, was among those attending the event in Wan Chai. He said one of the ways to make greater contributions is to fight against suppression by external forces like the United States, while defending national interests and maintaining the SAR's unique status. Zheng then switched from Putonghua to Cantonese. "The world's very chaotic. China's really doing well. The rise of the East is so apparent, the tables have turned," he said, drawing cheers from the audience. "There's no need to worry, the safest place is Hong Kong." The liaison office director also said despite changes, people should maintain their unwavering confidence in Hong Kong, believing in the fact that the uncertainties and negative impact of the external environment cannot stop the SAR's rise to greater prosperity. Chief Executive John Lee, meanwhile, said amid the uncertainties, Hong Kong has to find opportunities. He stressed that despite external provocations and bullying, the SAR will continue to be a free economy, uphold a simple, transparent and fair system, and stay open to the world.
