“A child is an uncut diamond,” the writer Austin O'Malley once said. With the right care and cultivation, every child will shine and dazzle, each with their unique brilliance. The EOC’s storybook series Tally & friends, launched last October, was precisely an early education initiative that aimed to help children appreciate themselves and others, embrace differences, and develop a sense of empathy and self-worth.

The EOC was once again recognised by the Hong Kong Management Association (HKMA) at its recent Best Annual Reports Awards. Organised by HKMA every year, the event gives credit to annual reports for being “timely, accurate, informative and well-presented.”

Much has been written about the lack of legal protection for LGBTI individuals in Hong Kong. To date, there is no ordinance specifically dedicated to combating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status; no gender recognition scheme that fully affirms and respects transgender people’s claim to their identity, especially those undergoing transition or unprepared for sex reassignment surgery; and no legislative plans to extend the privileges of heteroseuxal marriage – tax breaks, housing benefits, inheritance rights, etc. – to same-sex couples.

It is often said that Hong Kong should brace itself for a rapidly ageing society, but what exactly should be done? Some pointers may be found at the Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit (GIES), which is making a comeback from 22 – 25 November 2018 at Hall 1A & 1B, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.