Are online frauds really impossible to prevent? People have been defrauded of large sums of money by mistrusting online information, and many have fallen victim to personal fraud cases. While technology has contributed to life progress, it has also become a tool used by criminals for deceit. The popularization of the Internet has changed people's lifestyles, but it has also contributed to cybercrime. According to the latest police statistics, in the first quarter of 2023, Hong Kong's fraud cases increased by 65% compared with the same quarter in 2022. There are an increasing number of online fraud cases, and the amount of money defrauded is also growing. However, fraud is rampant. How can it be prevented before it occurs?

2022's policy address proposed the establishment of “Care Teams,” dividing Hong Kong's 18 districts into over 400 sub-districts, each with its own Care Team. This initiative, first rolled out in Tsuen Wan District and Southern District, serves as an organization to assist with government's district policies and to consolidate community resources. What specific services will it provide? How does the role of the Care Teams in the community differ from other groups serving the community? The government hopes to draw on the experiences gained in Tsuen Wan and Southern Districts and extend them to the remaining 16 districts. What insights do the District Officers, who are also the commanders of the Care Teams, have to share? And what suggestions might Care Team members have for reconsidering the service and operational model of the Care Teams?

There is a phenomenon of manpower mismatch. Many industries are experiencing manpower shortages and recruitment difficulties. As a way of resolving the labour shortage, the government decided to import labour. There have, however, been voices in society which suggest that importing labour is not addressing the root causes of the problem. Ultimately, we will still have to “rely on ourselves”. Effort should be made to encourage citizens of all ages to accept a variety of trades including some manual labour and “offensive trades” and provide more resources for vocational retraining. Meanwhile, it is necessary to attract more people to inherit various traditional and possibly declining industries.

Parents always worry about their children, regardless of their age. For parents of person with special education needs, their concerns about their children's livelihood extend even beyond their passing. A few years ago, the government introduced the “Special Needs Trust”, which are managed by the Social Welfare Department and designed to manage the inheritance for parents of person with intellectual disabilities, mental disorders, or autism. Regular disbursements will be made to their children, but not many trust accounts have been opened. Parents think that this program lacks transparency and flexibility in financial investments, and they worry that once the funds are used up, their children will lose the necessary care. Some suggest that the entire program should be reviewed for better flexibility and more promotion should be made to achieve a greater impact, ensuring that children with special needs receive care and assistance in the future.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) programme has gained considerable popularity in recent years among parents, and the number of IB top scorers is also on the rise. As well as international schools offering relevant non-local courses, more schools participating in the Direct Subsidy Scheme have also introduced the IB programmes. The IB curriculum attracted a great deal of attention from the education sector and parents. However, most DSS schools that offer IB programmes only provide a two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and schools that offer IB programmes must adopt a two-pronged approach, which means offering IB and local programmes simultaneously. Parents often mistakenly believe that IB courses are easier than traditional local courses. However, IB students must not only cope with public examinations, but also manage their time effectively and complete multiple papers and assignments. Pressure is no less than that which students face in the HKDSE. How well do parents understand IB programmes? Are IB students truly free from homework and exam pressures?

According to the Hospital Authority, in 2021, there were about 270,000 patients with mental illness receiving treatment under their care in Hong Kong, with approximately 370 psychiatrists available. The ratio of mental health patients to psychiatrists in Hong Kong has long been below the World Health Organization's recommendation of at least one psychiatrist per 10,000 people. The shortage of medical staff leads to long waiting times for patients. In June 2023, the government proposed ten measures to strengthen mental health support. These include optimizing the ratio of case managers to patients with severe mental illnesses to no more than 1:40, prescribing newer medications with fewer side effects, reviewing the “conditional discharge” mechanism, and exploring the feasibility of “Compulsory Treatment Order”. However, some scholars point out that the fundamental issue is the shortage of medical staff. The question remains: how can mental health services be optimized for the greatest benefit of the patients?

The aging population in Hong Kong has led to an increasing number of carers. When caring for the care recipients, carers not only have to address their needs but also face challenges related to their own mental well-being, lack of caregiving skills, and financial support, etc. In the 2022 Policy Address, the government reinforced the implementation of carer support policies. However, despite policy implementation, there have been a series of family tragedies in society, highlighting the issues of 'elderly caring for the elderly' and 'elderly caring for the disabled', and the heavy burden borne by elderly carers as well. How can we alleviate their pressure and create breathing space for them?

ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chat robot developed by OpenAI, has swept the world, triggering a debate on whether AI will replace humans. While some schools have banned its use, many others have chosen to embrace technology and continue developing AI teaching platforms to encourage student usage. The business sector, on the other hand, welcome this trend in general. However, will this lead to a substantial number of job losses? What impact will AI have on human employment? Could AI eventually surpass human control as depicted in science fiction?

In the sweltering summer heat, prolonged exposure to the sun can easily lead to heatstroke. The Labour Department recently released new Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work, based on the Observatory's Hong Kong Heat Index. These include amber, red, and black-level warnings, outlining rest arrangements for outdoor workers under each warning level. For outdoor workers, the critical question is whether these new guidance notes can ensure their health. The guidelines also categorize labour intensity into light, moderate, heavy, and very heavy physical workload, but do workers know which category they fall into? Meanwhile, what challenges do employers face in implementing these guidelines, and are there criminal liabilities for employers who fail to provide rest periods as stipulated? The increasingly common high temperatures and heatwaves are linked to climate change. Facing extreme heat, we must adopt strategies to adapt and also try to mitigate climate change from various angles.

In recent years, the government has actively promoted green burials, encouraging citizens to handle their ancestors' ashes in more environmentally friendly and sustainable ways, including scattering in gardens of remembrance and at sea. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department states that green burials can help save land resources needed for constructing columbaria in the long run. While the number of green burials has increased over the past decade, traditional beliefs still influence their prevalence, preventing them from becoming widespread. Funeral industry representatives emphasize the importance of understanding and preparing both pre- and post-mortem plans to increase the adoption of green burials, also urging citizens to plan their final affairs in advance.