*********************************************************
An award presentation and launch ceremony for "Freshtube", a new video channel on the Government youth portal (Youth.gov.hk), was held at Discovery Park Shopping Centre in Tsuen Wan this afternoon (February 26).
Officiating at the ceremony were the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau; the Head of the Efficiency Unit, Mr Kim Salkeld; and Freshtube "Ambassador", Mr Chau Pak-ho.
Representatives from Hong Kong Wetland Park of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, WWF-Hong Kong, the Association for Geoconservation, Hong Kong and the Academy of Film of Hong Kong Baptist University were also invited to present awards to the winners of "Fresh Takes on Nature - A Moving Images Competition for Secondary Students in Hong Kong".
As a green video channel launched to raise awareness of the environment and its protection among young people, Freshtube seeks to encourage them to express their opinions about Hong Kong's natural heritage and resources. In addition to an online version (www.youth.gov.hk/freshtube), the videos are available at an iPhone application entitled "Youth.gov.hk", which was also launched today.
"Fresh Takes on Nature - A Moving Images Competition for Secondary Students in Hong Kong" encourages secondary students to showcase their creativity by submitting short video clips or moving images (no longer than 180 seconds) on the themes of landforms and rocks, marine environment, wetland ecology and biodiversity to increase their understanding of Hong Kong's natural heritage and resources. The competition was conducted in two categories, namely Junior (Secondary 1 to 3) and Senior (Secondary 4 to 7). In addition to the champion, first runner-up and second runner-up, two winners of "Certificate of Merits" and a winner of "Most Creative Expression" were awarded in each category. The entries submitted by the 30 participating schools were all uploaded to the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/freshtakes) for voting of the "Most 'Like' by Facebook Community" award for each category (the list of winners is at Annex). Visit "Freshtube" to view the participants' works and share their boundless creativity and their original takes on nature.
At the ceremony, Freshtube Ambassador, Mr Chau Pak-ho, shared his experiences in producing videos and his ideas about our natural environment. To inspire greater green energy, a student from TWGHs C Y Ma Memorial College, Champion in the Secondary School Age category of the "Get It Green" Competition, gave a performance of his rap creation "A 'Coal' World".
Youth.gov.hk provides online services for young people. Apart from special features on a variety of topics, there is also detailed information on interest classes as well as arts and cultural activities. Visit the website (www.youth.gov.hk) to learn more.
Ends/Saturday, February 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:24
NNNN
